December 26, 2011

Despite years of cutting, Florida's safety-net services grow

> Posted by Aaron Deslatte on December 26, 2011 08:54 AM

TALLAHASSEE — Throughout the recession and economic hangover, Florida social-services advocates have warned that budget woes could unravel the safety net that supports millions of low-income families, seniors trying to stay in their homes, and people with debilitating illnesses or disabilities.

But entering Florida's fifth year of billion-dollar budget shortfalls, the state's core social services — from medical care to drug treatment to organ transplants — have proven remarkably resilient to cuts, thanks largely to billions of dollars routed to Florida by the 2009 federal stimulus act.

But now that cushion is running out. And much of the give-and-take over how to balance Florida's budget in the coming months will revolve around whether to replace stimulus cash — or cut services to the poor, sick and elderly by hundreds of millions of dollars.

"It wasn't intended to last forever, and it was intended to give states some breathing room," said Don Winstead, who oversaw Florida's stimulus spending for two years under then-Gov. Charlie Crist.

"I think it certainly succeeded," he said.

Though Florida's overall budget has declined from a high of $73.5 billion in 2007 to $69.1 billion this year, the numbers for safety-net programs have not:

•Florida's state-federal Medicaid health-care program has grown by more than 1 million people since mid-2007 and is on pace to cover more than 3.3 million people next year.

•The number of food-stamp recipients has grown from just under 1.3 million in mid-2007 to 3.3 million last month.

•Seniors enrolled in support programs that make home repairs, deliver meals and provide in-home health-care have held flat at about 120,000, though the waiting list has nearly doubled to 43,600.

•Enrollment in disability programs for autism, cerebral palsy, and other intellectual and motor disabilities has dipped, but only slightly, from 31,200 four years ago to 29,594 this month. However, the waiting list has grown from 15,273 people to 20,891.

December 25, 2011

Scott awakens old animosity between political leadership, FAMU

> Posted by Aaron Deslatte on December 25, 2011 07:47 AM

TALLAHASSEE — Gov. Rick Scott was furious about what was going on at Florida A&M University.

Robert Champion, a drum major in the university's famed Marching 100 band, was essentially beaten to death in a hazing ritual following the band's performance at the Florida Classic in Orlando on Nov. 19.

A former student at FAMU's K-12 developmental school had been arrested in October on charges he molested a child at the school — and state investigators now had reports the same teenager may have molested more than one child. A second hazing victim with a cracked femur had come forward.

Finally, Tribune Newspapers has learned, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement told Scott its probe into Champion's death had been expanded to investigate fraud involving potentially thousands of dollars in bogus travel per-diem payments to members of the Marching 100.

The first-year governor had heard enough. Even though advisors told him he lacked the power to suspend FAMU President James Ammons, Scott called Ammons in Dec. 16 and told him he should step aside because he'd lost institutional control of his university.

"We have a student murdered. We have a student beaten. We have a person sexually molested. We have financial irregularities," Scott said in an interview last week. "The public deserves an independent investigation, and I still think it's in the best interest of the university."

Ammons refused. And suddenly, Scott was at the center of the latest in a 50-year series of racially charged conflicts between a predominantly white Florida government and one of the nation's most prestigious black universities, conflicts that have provoked lingering bitterness in generations of FAMU alumni.

December 23, 2011

Congress sputters to end 2011

> Posted by William Gibson on December 23, 2011 03:58 PM

Congress ended a dismal year on Friday with more of a whimper than a bang, and nobody from South Florida in sight.

In a matter of seconds, without debate or a roll call vote, the House approved a Senate bill to extend the payroll tax cut and extra unemployment benefits for another two months as a stopgap measure.

Florida members, like most of Congress, had flown home or somewhere, anywhere, but Capitol Hill.

Some, like Congressman Allen West, a Republican from Plantation, saw the stopgap measure as another example of the failure of Congress to get a grip on spending matters and resolve issues. Most were just relieved to end the dispute for now, though it means facing the same debate in the new year when Congress considers a longer extension through 2012.

One big factor will be the reaction back home. Will constituents blame Republicans or Democrats for a year of gridlock in the midst of economic doldrums?

And will the two-month extension be a turning point, or just another frustrating transaction?

President Obama and Democrats won this round after refusing to back down from their insistence that House Republicans accept the two-month extension. Republicans caved, knowing they faced the wrath of voters if taxes rose and unemployment benefits expired in January.

Next year, an election year, will show whether gridlock continues or either of the parties gains the upper hand.

December 22, 2011

Florida members relieved by tax-cut extension

> Posted by William Gibson on December 22, 2011 06:24 PM

An agreement to extend the payroll tax cut and emergency unemployment benefits for two more months brought a sense of relief to members of both parties on Thursday, though Republicans remained disgruntled.

Tom Rooney

“A full-year extension of the payroll tax holiday would be far better than a two-month stopgap,” said Congressman Tom Rooney, a Republican from Tequesta.

He said, however, that a two-month extension is better than “continued gridlock that would lead to a tax increase for millions of Americans.”

The deal will prevent the expiration of a cut in the payroll tax that pays for Social Security. It also preserves the current reimbursement rate to doctors who serve Medicare patients and the extra unemployment benefits provided to the long-term jobless.

Senator Bill Nelson, a Democrat from Florida, said he was glad that House Republican leaders backed down and agreed to the two-month extension already passed by the Senate.

"After playing a needless and frustrating game of partisan politics, extremists in the House finally agreed to do the right thing and extend tax relief for 160 million Americans,” Nelson said. “Now we can get on with trying to solve some of the other challenges still facing our country. And hopefully we'll see a few more things done in a bipartisan spirit."

The two-month extension is designed to buy time before the House and Senate agree to a longer extension through 2012. The prospect of a tax increase and loss of unemployment benefits starting in January infuriated much of the public, prompting House Speaker John Boehner to back down on Thursday and agree to the Senate bill.

Billie: No idea where Bondi's information is coming from

> Posted by Kathleen Haughney on December 22, 2011 09:01 AM

From gambling reporter Nick Sortal

Seminole Tribe of Florida Chairman James E. Billie has fired back at Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi, with an editorial titled: "Seminole Gaming: clean since 1979" in response to claims by Bondi earlier this month that law enforcement could not back up.

Billie's comments are part of a quarter-page editorial dated today in The Seminole Tribune, a monthly newspaper covering tribe news. He names all the agencies and auditors that "scrutinize" the casino, including the FBI, IRS and gaming commissions -- all of which would have had to have missed the criminal action that Bondi claimed happened.

"If Bondi's statement is factual, then why didn't she alert us?" he wrote.

At a Dec. 8 news conference against a destination casino bill (which, ironically, the Seminoles are also against) Bondi said: “I went and spoke personally to many law enforcement officers and in Hillsborough County, many of the last drug trafficking cases that they made, the money was laundered through the casino.”

When pressed to name which casino, Bondi said it was the Hard Rock Tampa.

The Hillsborough County sheriff’s office contradicted her claim in a news release Dec. 14, saying “Our office has not conducted any investigation involving money laundering at casinos, nor do we have any official information that this type of criminal activity is/has occurred in Hillsborough County.”

Bondi later admitted via a statement that she did not speak to "many" officers, and instead said her information came from only one person -- at a charity function. She did not name the event. Through her office, Bondi has declined repeated requests for interviews.

Billie's editorial concludes: "It is disturbing to us for such a serious charge to come out of nowhere through the mouths of such high-ranking leadership as the Cabinet of the State of Florida without any regard to the high potential for damaging the Tribe's reputation and the reputation of its businesses."

> Posted by Kathleen Haughney on December 22, 2011 08:37 AM

TALLAHASSEE -- It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas...

But we've still got plenty of news to share. Here are the top five stories you should be reading.

* Convicted ponzi schemer and former political fundraiser Scott Rothstein said yesterday that his former law partners knew about his ponzi scheme and helped keep it running, the Sun-Sentinel reports. From the story: Rothstein not only implicated Stuart Rosenfeldt and Russell Adler, but said seven other attorneys inside and outside the Rothstein Rosenfeldt Adler firm helped keep the Ponzi scheme alive. His extraordinary sworn statements came in the first hours of a 10-day deposition he started giving last week, offering his first detailed account of his $1.4 billion Ponzi scheme, the largest financial fraud in South Florida history.

* The Florida Current reports that Gov. Rick Scott said he would sign an Internet sales tax bill, but with a caveat. From the story: While hanging on to his pledge not to raise taxes, Gov. Rick Scott said Wednesday he would sign a bill that would impose a tax on Internet sales, if the bill doesn’t increase the overall revenue to the state. Retail store owners are pushing for the tax, which they contend is unfair because they invest money in communities within the state to build “brick-and-mortar” stores, and are assessed Florida’s sales tax on items.

* U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Fla., said there is more bipartisan support for restoring the Everglades than was originally expected, the Miami Herald writes. From the story: There’s more bipartisan support for restoring the Everglades than might be expected, Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Fla., said Wednesday — especially given the politically charged atmosphere in Washington and Florida Gov. Rick Scott’s previous concerns about spending state money on projects.Nelson, touting the bipartisan push behind some recent legislative victories, said he and others have pressed Scott repeatedly to emphasize the importance of the project for jobs and future water quality. The Democratic senator thanked the Republican governor for for a budget that restores some of the state’s share of funding for the complex, multi-year project.

* The Orlando Sentinel writes that a retired firefighter Booker T. Perry became the centerpiece story of a group's fight against Attorney General Pam Bondi over foreclosure issues Perry was evicted from his home, only owing $2,000 on it. From the story: Perry's story was the centerpiece of an event Wednesday staged by a new coalition, Floridians for a Fair Settlement. The group asked for a federal investigation into the settlement talks between attorneys general across the nation and five major lenders accused of fraudulent mortgage practices. A similar event took place in Miami. At the Open Door Missionary Baptist Church in Eatonville, representatives from several church congregations, labor unions and Democratic legislators called on Republican Bondi to prosecute corrupt bank executives, fight for mortgage companies to reduce principal on underwater homes and demand a settlement of $250 billion — 10 times the amount reported in current negotiations.

* The Sun-Sentinel reports that a payout to former Broward Teachers' Union chief Pat Santeramo could leave the group strapped for cash. From the story: The Broward Teachers Union announced late Friday that it will give former President Pat Santeramo a six-figure sum for his unused vacation and sick hours. What union officials haven't said is how they plan to pay for it. Santeramo's decade-long tenure has left the union — one of the largest in Florida with about 11,500 members — nearly impoverished. A recent audit found that the union has about $700,000 in cash, $728,000 in a "building reserve fund" and an office building and land in Tamarac.

December 21, 2011

Scott: Getting gambling bill through Legislature will be tough

> Posted by Kathleen Haughney on December 21, 2011 02:23 PM

TALLAHASSEE -- Gov. Rick Scott, in an interview with the Sun-Sentinel/Orlando Sentinel Wednesday said that he thought it would "tough" to get a destination casino bill through the Legislature.

"I think it’s going to be tough to get a gaming bill passed just because of the money the state gets out of the Seminole Compact, the fact that you have exist gaming from the parimutuels and how are they going to get treated," he said.

Scott: 60 new jobs for Polk Co.

> Posted by Kathleen Haughney on December 21, 2011 08:34 AM

TALLAHASSEE -- The governor's office put out a release at 8 a.m. today announcing that Coca-Cola plans to expand its facility in Auburndale.

The expansion will likely add 60 new jobs.

“Coca-Cola’s choice of Auburndale for its expansion is a testament to the state’s supportive business environment and strong capabilities for serving corporate and manufacturing needs,” Gov. Rick Scott said in his statement. "It’s also an outcome of our city and county partners’ commitment to growing Florida’s manufacturing base to build a healthier economy.”

According to the release, the state awarded Coca-Cola with incentives from the Qualified Target Industry Fund, which if used, would provide $180,000 in tax rebates. Twenty percent of that would be provided by the City of Auburndale and Polk County.

Wednesday Morning Reads: Food stamps, guns and slot machines

> Posted by Kathleen Haughney on December 21, 2011 08:29 AM

TALLAHASSEE -- Halfway through the week and hopefully most of you are cycling out for vacation days to celebrate your chosen holiday or to spend time getting some R&R.

But for those of you toiling away in the government and politics world, or for those who are keen watchers of what goes on in Tallahassee and Washington D.C., here are your top five stories for this morning.

* The Sun-Sentinel reports that one in six Floridians is on food stamps. From the story: Figures released this month by the Agriculture Department paint a grim picture of widespread dependence nationwide but especially in Florida, where a record 3.1 million people — one in six residents — received food-stamp aid in September.The numbers reflect a need witnessed every day by those who distribute food to the poor and to the growing ranks of Floridians who have fallen out of the middle and working classes.

* South Florida lawmaker Lori Berman, D-Delray Beach, has proposed legislation that would tweak an NRA-pushed gun bill that passed last year to strike local gun ordinances from the law. The News Service of Florida reports: Months after lawmakers approved a measure to overrule cities and counties with get-tough gun laws, a Palm Beach County lawmaker on Tuesday introduced a bill to begin restoring some limits on where residents can carry guns. Saying she hopes to at least generate debate, Rep. Lori Berman, D-Delray Beach, filed a proposal (HB 1087) to bar hand guns from childcare care centers and government buildings.

* The Orlando Sentinel writes that Attorney General Pam Bondi has rewritten the "religious freedom" act for the 2012 ballot in light of a ruling by Judge Terry Lewis that the current language was misleading. From the story: Attorney General Pam Bondi on Tuesday submitted replacement summary language for a proposed amendment that would strip a century-old prohibition on providing state funds to religious institutions from Florida's constitution. Last week, Leon County Circuit Judge Terry Lewis ruled the summary language for Amendment 7, titled the "Religious Freedom" act, was misleading because it created the impression that it would "make it a lot harder for the state to deny funding or program benefits to a sectarian institution."

* The Sun-Sentinel reports that Palm Beach County will go ahead with a slots referendum. From the story: Come November, voters will decide if Palm Beach County should become a bigger player in South Florida's growing gambling industry.
The Palm Beach County Commission on Tuesday agreed to hold a referendum asking voters to allow slot machines in a bid to keep pace with expanded South Florida gambling. The referendum would allow slot machines at existing pari-mutuels, which means expanding gambling at the Palm Beach Kennel Club near Palm Beach International Airport.

* The Florida Current offers a session outlook on education issues. From the story: he 2011 legislative session was chock full of high-profile education legislation, most notably the merit pay bill that became the first that Gov. Rick Scott signed into law. Other bills making it easier for parents to convert a public school to a charter school and creating easier access to virtual schools made it through the Legislature, but 2012 will likely be a more low-key year for K-12 education policy front. In 2012, a budget battle looms. Scott has called for more education spending to fill an anticipated $1.2 billion shortfall, and said he would not sign a budget that does not boost funding for schools. The cuts come largely at the expense of hospitals in the form of reduced Medicaid reimbursements.

December 20, 2011

Bondi drafts new 'religious freedom' constitutional language

> Posted by Aaron Deslatte on December 20, 2011 05:01 PM

TALLAHASSEE -- Attorney General Pam Bondi on Tuesday submitted replacement summary language for a 2012 amendment that would strip a century-old prohibition on state funds for religious institutions from Florida's constitution.

Last week, Leon County Circuit Judge Terry Lewisruled the summary language for Amendment 7, titled the "Religious Freedom" act, was misleading because it created the impression that it would "make it a lot harder for the state to deny funding or program benefits to a sectarian institution."

Critics have called it a back-door attempt to more easily steer taxpayer money to religious schools, institutions and programs. The amendment's ballot summary states it would ensure "no individual or entity may be denied, on the basis of religious identity or belief, governmental benefits, funding, or other support."

Bondi's new language mirrors the suggestion Lewis made, by deleting the phrase "consistent with the United States Constitution" and inserting "except as required by the First Amendment of the United States Constitution."

Lewis specifically wrote that "consistent with" and "required by" have different legal meanings when courts have tried to balance the First Amendment's "Establishment" and "Free Exercise" clauses. The amendment itself read "required," which Lewis said would "tilt the balance" of Florida's constitution from heavily favoring prohibitions on religious funding to favoring "free exercise" of religion -- and not prohibiting funding for religious programs or groups unless it is expressly forbidden by the Establishment Clause.

Florida teachers' union, the Anti-Defamation League, ACLU of Florida, and others had launched the legal fight to block the amendment.

"Voters deserve an opportunity to decide whether to remove from Florida's constitution a provision that discriminates against religious institutions," Bondi said in a statement. "The revised ballot summary completely cures the legal defect identified in Judge Lewis's ruling striking down the original ballot summary."

Tuesday Morning Reads: Cigarettes, the DMV and foreclosures

> Posted by Kathleen Haughney on December 20, 2011 09:20 AM

TALLAHASSEE -- Happy Hannukah to those who begin the celebration tonight and for those celebrating Christmas, you still have to wait a few days.

For those still toiling at the office for the next few days, here's an easy way to get caught up on today's government news. Here are the top five stories you should be reading this morning.

* FAMU President James Ammons will stay on the job amidst a probe into hazing problems at the university, reports the Sentinel. From the story: Florida A&M University's board of trustees rebuffed Gov. Rick Scott on Monday by refusing to suspend university president James Ammons amid an investigation into the hazing death of student Robert Champion. The trustees, in fact, spent just minutes on the issue despite Scott's continuing pressure for them to suspend Ammons.

* The Sun-Sentinel reports that Chief Justice Charles Canady has shuttered the state's foreclosure mediation program. From the story: TALLAHASSEE — Florida Supreme Court Chief Justice Charles Canady shut down the state's 2-year-old foreclosure mediation program Monday, after low success rates and criticism from both lenders and borrowers deemed the program unsustainable. The court system, which has faced a torrent of foreclosure cases in the past several years, has seen its budgets cut and staff reduced. That combined with a rising number of foreclosure cases led to substantial backlogs for many of the court circuits around the state.

* The Palm Beach Post reports that the state Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles is trying to warn Floridians about fake websites that are trying to lure drivers who need to renew or change their licenses. From the story: DMV officials called the websites deceptive and said links to them, which often appear as advertisements when people use search engines like Google or Yahoo to find the DMV website, ask users to input their name, address and credit card information and charge anywhere from $25 to $50 to route them to the official DHSMV website.

* The St. Petersburg Times writes that students will now face higher FCAT passing scores. From the story: State education leaders on Monday unanimously approved raising the passing scores for all the levels of the annual reading and math exams. The change follows the state's move to FCAT 2.0, a new, more rigorous version of the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test. A.K. Desai, a member of the Florida Board of Education, praised the increased benchmark as supporting students "in their reach to be globally competitive citizens."

* The News Service of Florida reports that state Rep. Jim Waldman, D-Coconut Creek, is trying to persuade fellow lawmakers to raise the cigarette tax and roll back increased driver fees that were passed a few years ago. From the story: A South Florida lawmaker wants to increase cigarette taxes by $1 a pack and is offering a political sweetener to try to get it passed: Use the money to roll back fees on motorists. Rep. Jim Waldman, D-Coconut Creek, filed the bill (HB 1049) last week. Lawmakers in 2009 also approved a $1-a-pack increase in cigarette taxes --- or a "surcharge" as supporters called it --- as they grappled with budget problems. Waldman said the state has seen decreases in cigarette smoking, and he hopes the additional taxes will further reduce tobacco use by young people.

December 19, 2011

Allen West rebels against unemployment benefit stopgap

> Posted by William Gibson on December 19, 2011 01:08 PM

South Florida Congressman Allen West has joined a rebellion brewing among House Republicans who refuse to vote for legislation that would extend special unemployment benefits for two months and also extend the current cut in the payroll tax.

Congressman Allen West

The Senate approved the extensions on Saturday and expected the House to do the same this week to prevent the benefits and tax cut from expiring on Jan. 1.

“This two-month amendment proposed today is nothing more than a short-term band aid,” said West, a Republican from Plantation.

He called the stopgap measure “nothing but typical liberal Democrat incrementalism and political gimmickry to continue to debate these issues into the election year.”

The rebellion from House Republicans prompted Speaker John Boehner to retreat from the two-month measure, which is designed to give Congress more time to debate a more substantial extension through 2012. House Republicans on Monday demanded negotiations on a full-year renewal, but Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said he will not renegotiate until the House passes a temporary extension.

Expert more rhetorical fireworks and maneuvering as a disgruntled Congress lumbers toward a holiday break.

Scott doesn't agree with FAMU decision, but accepts it

> Posted by Kathleen Haughney on December 19, 2011 10:25 AM

TALLAHASSEE -- Gov. Rick Scott just put out a statement on the Florida A&M Trustees' decision to not suspend President James Ammons while law enforcement investigates the hazing death of drum major Robert Champion and other possible crimes.

Here's his statement: “For the sake of appearances, and to assure the public that these investigations are clearly independent, I believe it would have been in the best interest of Florida A&M University for President Ammons to step aside until all of these investigations are completed. However, we have a process in Florida for the administration of the State University System, and that process has been followed. Like all other Floridians, I will abide by the decision made by the Florida A&M University Board of Trustees.”

FAMU trustees stand by Ammons

> Posted by Aaron Deslatte on December 19, 2011 09:32 AM

TALLAHASSEE -- The trustees of Florida A&M University just declined to suspend President James Ammons while law enforcement agencies investigate the hazing death of Marching 100 drum major Robert Champion, and allegations of fraud and an unrelated case of child molestation at the institution's K-12 school.

Board Chair Solomon L. Badger read a prepared statement Monday morning at the trustees' meeting that the institution needed to make decisions based on the facts of the cases, and "stand firm against outside influences," no matter how well-meaning. The statement was a shot at Gov. Rick Scott, after his attempt to press the board to force Ammons to step aside.

The board also agreed to begin meeting weekly for the next 60 days to get regular briefings from Ammons, law enforcement and other agencies on the investigations.

About an hour after the meeting, Scott released a statement saying he would abide by the decision.

"For the sake of appearances, and to assure the public that these investigations are clearly independent, I believe it would have been in the best interest of Florida A&M University for President Ammons to step aside until all of these investigations are completed,' Scott said. "However, we have a process in Florida for the administration of the State University System, and that process has been followed. Like all other Floridians, I will abide by the decision made by the Florida A&M University Board of Trustees."

> Posted by Kathleen Haughney on December 19, 2011 08:13 AM

TALLAHASSEE -- State Rep. Mia Jones, D-Jacksonville, released a statement this morning on behalf of the legislative black caucus urging the Florida A & M Board of Trustees to act "without influence from political forces" when it meets this morning to consider the suspension of President James Ammons.

Jones said that Gov. Rick Scott, who publicly recommended that Ammons be suspended, was entitled as head of the state to express his opinion, but that the trustees needed to be able to make their decision free of the governor's office.

"It is the position of the Florida Legislative Black Caucus (FLBC) that the Board of Trustees be allowed to fulfill its duties in the manner outlined in Florida statutes without influence from the Legislative or Executive branch of government. We trust that the Board will act decisively, firmly and in the best interest of Florida A&M University."

The trustees meet by phone at 9 a.m. to discuss the suspension of Ammons while an ongoing investigation into the hazing death of Marching 100 drum major Robert Champion is completed. The investigation was recently expanded to look into allegations of fraud. Separately, a case of child molestation at the university's k-12 school has also come to light.

Scott said yesterday that he had the "utmost respect" for Ammons, but that he felt it would be better if he stepped down during the investigation so that it would not appear he was influencing it in any way.

Florida A&M alumni held a news conference on campus yesterday denouncing Scott's recommendation and essentially told him to stay out of it.

Monday Morning Reads: Slots, Marco Rubio and FAMU

> Posted by Kathleen Haughney on December 19, 2011 07:30 AM

TALLAHASSEE -- It's less than a week before Christmas and Hannukah starts tomorrow, so the capital city is filled with the holiday spirit and its stores are filled with sales.

And while one would think that state policy makers would be quieting down and there would be little news from the politics and government realm, December has been quite a busy month.

So without further rambling from me, here are the top five stories you should be reading this morning.

* The Sun-Sentinel reports that the Palm Beach County Commission is set to vote Tuesday on a slot machine referendum. From the story: Palm Beach County gambling supporters are betting that slot machines offer a way into South Florida's proposed casino gold rush. Broward and Miami-Dade counties are asking the Legislature for the chance to build Las Vegas-style casinos, and Palm Beach County business and political leaders worry they could lose out on the tourism, jobs and tax revenues expected to follow expanded gambling. To stay competitive, Palm Beach County gambling proponents want to at least get slot machines at their only existing parimutuel facility, the Palm Beach Kennel Club.

* The Orlando Sentinel/Sun-Sentinel Washington bureau has a write-up on Marco Rubio's first year in the Senate and the freshman senator's take on the political culture. From the story: Marco Rubio's first year in the nation's capital has made him a deeply frustrated senator. Florida's rising political star — full of expectations after a productive stint in the state Legislature and a come-from-behind victory in his 2010 U.S. Senate race — ends a bruising year in Washington with little sense of accomplishment and a dismal outlook. "I can't think of a single real high point," Rubio said during an interview in his Senate office, talking a mile a minute while tapping his foot with nervous energy.

* The St. Petersburg TImes writes that critics of Florida's charter schools say operators are too cozy with lawmakers. From the story: The number of charter schools is exploding across the country, with Florida leading the way. And the relationships that some state lawmakers have with them are raising hackles, especially as they play key roles in making it easier for charters to operate here. "There's a growing frustration with elected leaders that the code of ethics appears to apply to everyone but themselves," said Lynne Webb, teachers union president in Legg's home county. "I liken it to insider trading."

* The AP reports on past claims bills that have been revived for the upcoming legislative session. From the story: Emotion-packed bills that would compensate two men whose lives were turned upside down by governmental mistakes will get another chance during Florida's 2012 legislative session after the measures died in the frantic final hours of the 2011 session. They are among several high-profile claims bills lawmakers will consider in the session that begins Jan. 10.

* The Sun-Sentinel reports on the number of property tax bills being floated in the Legislature as it prepares for its upcoming 60-day legislative session. From the story: A proposed constitutional amendment that would cap the amount of taxes virtually all property owners pay is quickly gaining traction in Tallahassee. For most homeowners with homestead, it would mean a super exemption on top of current exemptions, ranging from 15 to 30 percent of their property's fair market value of between $75,000 and $400,000. The exception: Those whose Save Our Homes benefit exceeds the super-exemption. For snowbirds and other non-homesteaded owners, there would be a 7 percent cap – instead of the current 10 percent --in how much taxes can rise.

December 18, 2011

Scott says he'll abide by FAMU Trustees decision regarding Ammons

> Posted by Kathleen Haughney on December 18, 2011 06:58 PM

TALLAHASSEE -- Gov. Rick Scott just released a statement in response to the rally/press conference that the alumni association had on campus today.

Here's the release from the governor's office.

***********“I am disappointed in the direction the dialog regarding the hazing-murder of a Florida A&M University student has taken. I know many people who care about the great institution share with me the concerns I have with making sure the current investigations proceed independently and without any appearance of interference so responsible parties may be brought to justice.

“I have not singled out Florida A&M University as I immediately called on all Universities throughout the state to examine their hazing and harassment policies and requested that the state's 11 public university presidents also remind their students, faculty and staff of how detrimental hazing can be.

“Following reports of the beating of one student and the death of another associated with hazing activities, I asked the Florida Department of Law Enforcement to provide any and all assistance necessary to help find answers through an investigation. After financial irregularities were discovered, I committed resources of our Inspector General to assist at the request of the Board of Governors.

“The FAMU Board of Trustees has already publicly reprimanded Dr. Ammons. This week, I learned of reports of at least one child molestation case that took place on campus, an incident Dr. Ammons told me in my office he was not made aware of until months after its occurrence. Based on all of these facts, I merely suggested it would be wise for Dr. Ammons to step aside until these investigations are completed.

“It is up to the FAMU Board of Trustees and Dr. Ammons to determine how to proceed. I have not and will not try to influence their decision. I simply offered my advice and opinion based on the events and the facts I was made aware of. Like all other Floridians, I will abide by the decisions made by the Board of Trustees and President Ammons tomorrow, and I do not plan to release any further comment before then.”

> Posted by Kathleen Haughney on December 18, 2011 06:02 PM

TALLAHASSEE – As the Florida A&M University Board of Trustees prepared to meet Monday to discuss the suspension of university president James Ammons, alumni rallied on campus, criticizing Gov. Rick Scott for his suggestion that Ammons be temporarily ousted and suggesting that he was jeopardizing the university’s future by getting involved.

It was a simple message for Scott: Back off.

Watch the video of FAMU National Alumni Association President Tommy Mitchell, Sr., at a press conference/rally held today at the university.

December 16, 2011

Sheriffs oppose casino legislation

> Posted by Kathleen Haughney on December 16, 2011 01:53 PM

TALLAHASSEE -- The Florida Sheriff's Association released a statement this afternoon announcing formal opposition to the destination casino legislation that is slated for a committee vote the first week of session.

The Florida Sheriffs Association (FSA) stands behind Attorney General Pam Bondi in her opposition to the expansion of gambling in our state,” said FSA President and Volusia County Sheriff Ben Johnson in a news release. “Study after study has confirmed the link between casino gambling and increased crime. While casinos may spur short-term economic gain, the spin-off societal costs from increased criminal victimization and gambling addiction are just too high a price to pay. Expanding casino gambling is a bad deal for Florida, and we applaud our Attorney General for taking a strong stand against any further proliferation of gambling in Florida.”

Several members of the law enforcement community appeared at a news conference with 'No Casinos' and Bondi earlier this month to oppose the legislation.

Lauderdale lawyer to be Bar president

> Posted by Kathleen Haughney on December 16, 2011 01:44 PM

TALLAHASSEE -- Eugene K. Pettis, a Fort Lauderdale attorney, is set to become the president of the Florida Bar in 2013 and will be the first African American to hold the position.

Pettis is a trial attorney who has been practicing law since 1985 and is a founding partner of Haliczer Pettis & Schwamm.

"The reach of the Bar and its members' contributions to public good is unparalleled," said Pettis via a news release. "Through my travels across the state, I have seen hundreds of lawyers who are using their skills in service to their communities. These observations have ignited in me even greater pride in our Bar."

Pettis will be sworn in as president-elect at the Bar's annual convention in June 2012 when Tampa attorney Gwynne Alice Young will ascend to the presidency.

Unemployment down a tad

> Posted by Kathleen Haughney on December 16, 2011 11:14 AM

Florida's jobless rate in November fell to 10 percent, the lowest rate in 31 months, and down four-tenths of a percentage point from the October's revised rate of 10.4 percent.

In South Florida, Broward county's unemployment remained at 8.9 percent while Palm Beach and Miami-Dade counties' rates fell, to 10.1 percent and 9.4 percent, respectively. In October, Palm Beach County's rate was 10.3 percent while Miami-Dade had a 10.7 percent rate.

The state added 8,500 jobs over the month. It has added 120,000 jobs since the beginning of the year.

UPDATE: Since this was posted, Gov. Rick Scott put out a statement. We've included it below.

"We are continuing to move Florida in the right direction by streamlining government, eliminating burdensome regulations, identifying economic development opportunities and prioritizing education,” Scott said. “I am hopeful that we will see Florida’s unemployment rate continue to decline as jobs grow and more Floridians find work.”

Fla loses out on Race to Top Money

> Posted by Kathleen Haughney on December 16, 2011 11:07 AM

From our colleague Leslie Postal in Orlando

Florida has lost out on its bid to win $100 million to boost the care and education of young children. Nine other states have won the federal Race to the Top early learning challenge, the Associated Press is reporting this morning.

Florida was a reluctant applicant in many ways. The state's early-childhood advocates were eager for money to help improve the care of at-risk babies and young children. But Gov. Rick Scott, who signed the state's application, said the state would accept the money only if "no federal strings" were attached and no "new burdensome regulations" were placed on private child-care centers.

More patients turning to ER for dental care

> Posted by Kathleen Haughney on December 16, 2011 08:46 AM

Our colleague Bob LaMendola, who covers health, has a story today on how more patients are turning to the ER for dental care.

*********
Floridians who lost health coverage in the recession and Medicaid patients are increasingly turning to emergency rooms for dental care, driving up costs for the uninsured and taxpayers, a study reported Thursday.

More than 115,000 people went to the hospital last year for dental care that could have been prevented or done at a much lower cost in a dentist's office, said officials of the Florida Oral Health Coalition, which did the study. That's up 9 percent since 2008. More than 15,500 of them were children.

ERs charged $88 million for that dental care last year — $30 million to Florida's state-federal Medicaid program , the study found. Hospitals not reimbursed for the care likely pass on the cost to other patients through higher charges.

Friday Morning Reads: FAMU protest, Medicaid and destination casinos

> Posted by Kathleen Haughney on December 16, 2011 08:19 AM

TALLAHASSEE -- Good morning and happy Friday to you. We know you're all anxious to get on with your day so the weekend will come that much faster.

So with that, here are the top five stories you should be reading this morning.

* The Sun-Sentinel breaks out the potential spots for new destination casinos in South Florida. From glittering Miami Beach to the fringes of Broward's Everglades, international casino magnates are scouring South Florida looking for the perfect spot to place world-class, high-end destination casino hotels should the Florida Legislature agree to open the state to all-out Las Vegas-style gambling.
That has business leaders and some county officials jumping at the chance to lure extra dollars and jobs to the region. "They're dangling that green carrot," said Nicki Grossman, president of the Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention & Visitors Bureau. "Boy, you can't miss the smell of that money. It's important, and that's why everybody is coveting the opportunity to host that casino facility.''

* The Palm Beach Post writes that a recent 4th District Court of Appeal ruling may have broad ramifications for homeowners in the foreclosure crisis. From the story: Home­owners in foreclosure may have a better chance of getting a true trial, instead of a quickie judgment, following a 4th District Court of Appeal decision that requires banks to prove ownership of the note at the time they file for repossession. The ruling Wednesday in Palm Beach County was heralded by foreclosure defense attorneys who said it may even force banks to dismiss some cases and start over with new paperwork.

* A new Senate report says that lawmakers need to either ban or highly regulate Internet cafes, the Florida Current reports. From the story: The confusion in the law has led to uneven enforcement across the state, as some counties choose to arrest operators and shut down the stores that offer Internet time for sweepstakes cards that are played out on computers featuring casino games. Others choose to regulate them and impose large fees and taxes. "Based upon the findings in this report, Senate professional staff recommends that the Legislature not maintain the status quo. Local governments are passing inconsistent ordinances and law enforcement is similarly handling these businesses differently across the state," the report states.

* The St. Petersburg Times writes that the new head of the Florida Citrus Commission will be expected to focus on marketing Florida's orange juice. From the story: The Florida Citrus Commission is poised to choose its new executive director today from among three marketing executives. In doing so, the commission will make clear that promoting Florida orange juice around the world should be the Department of Citrus' main focus. The agency has other duties, such as regulating the industry and conducting research, but those are second-tier, Commission Chairman Marty McKenna said.

* The News Service of Florida reports that the federal government has approved Florida's proposal to extend its five-county Medicaid pilot until 2014. From the story: Ending more than a year of talks, federal officials Thursday approved Florida's proposal to extend a controversial Medicaid managed-care pilot program through June 2014. The announcement renews a requirement that most Medicaid beneficiaries in five counties enroll in HMOs or other managed-care plans. Also, it means that hospitals and other health providers will continue to tap into a $1-billion-a-year program that bolsters care for low-income and uninsured patients.

December 15, 2011

Feds back consumers on Florida insurance costs

> Posted by William Gibson on December 15, 2011 02:31 PM

Saying they want to help consumers to get their money’s worth, federal officials on Thursday rejected Florida’s attempt to allow insurance companies to devote more than 20 percent of premiums to administrative costs and profits.

“We think that this is a very good decision for the insurance consumers in the state of Florida, that is going to ensure that they continue to get value for their premium dollars,” said Steve Larsen, director of consumer information and insurance oversight at the Department of Health and Human Services.

“The impact of our decision is to ensure that consumers get the benefit of the 80-percent standard this year as well as the following years through 2014.”

The state had requested an exception to rules under the new health care law that require companies to devote 80 percent of premiums to medical claims and only 20 percent to administrative costs. Regulators in Florida and other states have warned that insurers would flee their markets and leave some patients without coverage if the rule isn’t eased.

Larsen rejected the argument, saying Florida appears to have enough companies competing for business so that a change in the 80-20 standard -- known as a “medical-loss ratio” -- is not needed.

He cited 20 companies of sufficient size in the state, including nine with more than 10,000 enrollees. “That’s a sign of a very competitive market,” he said.

A federal review, he said, determined that Florida “has a very competitive individual market and that there is not a risk that applying this 80-20 rule to insurance companies would risk destabilizing the market.”

Voter groups sue over Florida voting law

> Posted by Kathleen Haughney on December 15, 2011 02:26 PM

TALLAHASSEE -- Several voting rights groups have filed a lawsuit in federal court to block a new law passed last spring that made changes to the state's voting practices.

The groups in the suit -- League of Women Voters of Florida, Rock the Vote, and the Florida Public Interest Research Group Education Fund -- argue that the new law attempts to "regulate voter registration drives out of existence."

"This law represents Florida legislators’ third attempt in six years to drown voter registration groups in regulation,” said Lee Rowland, counsel for the Brennan Center’s Democracy Program. “It is unfortunate that we have had to represent Florida’s leading voter registration groups, not once, or twice, but three times in fighting back against the Florida legislature’s repeated attempts to stifle access to voter registration opportunities.”

The suit argues that the new law violates the right to free speech and it fails to give individuals and groups fair notice of how to comply with the law. It also contends that the law violates the National Registration Act, a federal law designed to encourage voter registration activity.

The new law made 80 changes to the state's voting laws and in the process of undergoing a federal review. It's also drawn notice from U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder, who this week, said he had concerns about several states that have made changing to their voting laws.

Legislation affecting voting must get federal approval because five counties in the state -- Collier, Hardee, Hendry, Hillsborough and Monroe -- face extra scrutiny under the Voting Rights Act. States can either submit the legislation to the Justice Department or to the federal district court in Washington D.C.

Florida Secretary of State Kurt Browning initially submitted the entire law to review via the Justice Department, but ultimately decided that the four most controversial parts of the law should have a court hearing instead. The DOJ has already approved the remaining 76 changes.

The four more controversial changes involve the time in which third party registration groups are required to submit voter registration cards, adjustments to petition signature verification, the discontinuation of changing your registration at the polling place and modifications to the time allowed for early voting.

A spokesman for Browning said the Department of State was given a copy of the case this afternoon, but has not had time to review it.

Former U.S. Rep. Feeney is new head of business lobby group

> Posted by Kathleen Haughney on December 15, 2011 01:41 PM

TALLAHASSEE -- Former U.S. Rep. Tom Feeney is the new head of Associated Industries of Florida, replacing Barney Bishop, who was ousted from the job earlier this year.

Feeney is also a former Speaker of the Florida House.

Here's the release from AIF.

************
TALLAHASSEE – Associated Industries of Florida (AIF) today announced Tom Feeney as its new president and CEO. In addition to managing the day-to-day operations of the organization, he will work closely with elected officials and policymakers to further cultivate a pro-business climate in Florida. He will assume his duties on January 1, 2012.

“Representative Feeney is highly respected, both as an elected official and as a Florida businessman. He is a proven leader and will be a tremendous asset to the association. Having dedicated much of the last 20 years to public service, Tom knows what it takes to be effective in the halls of the Florida capitol and on Capitol Hill,” said Erika Alba, Chair of the AIF Board of Directors. “AIF is proud of the many successes we have achieved for our growing membership and the business community at large. We look forward to Tom building on these successes and taking AIF to the next level.”

A seasoned lawmaker who has served at both the state and federal levels, Feeney represented the 24th Congressional District of Florida from 2002 to 2008. During his time in Congress, Feeney was the Ranking Member of the U.S. House of Representatives Space and Aviation Subcommittees, and Deputy Ranking Member of the U.S. House of Representatives Intellectual Property Subcommittee. His service on the U.S. House Financial Services Committee earned him experience in banking, insurance, monetary and fiscal policy, corporate governance, and a wide variety of financial issues. Additionally, he served on the U.S. House Judiciary Committee, leading on Intellectual Property and Anti-Trust issues.

Feeney was elected to the Florida House of Representatives where he served two terms before being chosen as Governor Bush's running mate in his first race for governor in 1994. He returned to the State Legislature in 1995 and, in 2000, was elected Speaker of the Florida House. He continued his service in the Florida House until his election to Congress in 2002. He holds a B.A. in Political Science from Penn State University and obtained his law degree from the University of Pittsburgh.

“I thank the Board of Directors and members of the Search Committee for providing me the great honor and once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to lead an organization as distinguished as AIF,” said Feeney. “With the 2012 Legislative Session just around the corner, I will be immediately rolling up my sleeves and getting to work on AIF’s top priorities.”

After establishing a Search Committee lead by former State Representative Trey Traviesa, the AIF Board of Directors retained the services of Korn/Ferry International, a global provider of talent management solutions, and launched a formal search for a new president and CEO in October. After reviewing information on prospective candidates compiled by Korn/Ferry, the Search Committee interviewed selected candidates prior to making its recommendations to the AIF Board of Directors. The full Board voted today in favor of Feeney.

“This was an incredible process and we were fortunate to have a number of highly qualified candidates to consider. In the end, however, it was Representative Feeney’s vast knowledge and deep understanding of the issues important to AIF members that most impressed the Board,” said Traviesa.

Known as “The Voice of Florida Business,” AIF has advocated for the principles of prosperity and free enterprise since 1920. Representing more than 10,000 businesses across the state, AIF is one of Florida’s most powerful and successful government affairs and business lobbying groups.

Feds reject Florida's effort to dodge health-care reform

> Posted by Aaron Deslatte on December 15, 2011 01:39 PM

TALLAHASSEE -- Federal officials announced Thursday they had rejected Florida's request to dodge a mandate that health-insurers spend more of their revenue on direct-care for patients, a key requirement of the 2009 federal health-care reform.

The decision means insurers in the state will have to start devoting at least 80 percent of premium dollars to patient claims or programs designed to increase health -- rather than the 68 percent "medical-loss ratio" the state had requested.

"We have determined that the evidence presented does not establish a reasonable likelihood that the application of the 80 percent MLR standard will destabilize the Florida individual market," Steven Larsen, a deputy administrator in charge of insurance regulation within the federal Department of Health and Human Services, wrote Thursday to Florida officials.

"Consequently, we have determined not to adjust the MLR standard in the Florida individual market and, thereby, ensure that consumers receive the full benefit of this provision of the Affordable Care Act."

In a press conference call, federal officials said they received "an unprecedented" level of public input on Florida's request, and it was uniformly critical of the request.

Florida's Office of Insurance Regulation filed the request last March, arguing the state's insurance market couldn't handle the lower level of profits for companies. But HHS officials said Thursday that the evidence Florida presented was not convincing, and the insurers that have indicated they were pulling out of the market were not related to the health-care reform.

Based on 2010 data, HHS said it looked like six of the 20 issuers in the Florida individual market – Aetna Health, Aetna Life, AvMed, Coventry Health & Life, Health Options, and Celtic – already meet the higher rate, while Blue Cross/Blue Shield plans to meet it this year.

The other companies not meeting the premium threshold could owe millions of dollars in rebates to policyholders that would have to be factored into rates next year.

> Posted by Kathleen Haughney on December 15, 2011 08:21 AM

TALLAHASSEE -- Good morning and happy Thursday.

More and more people are slipping out of the capital city as the holidays near, but there is still plenty of news in the politics and government realm. So with that, here are the top five stories you should be reading this morning.

* The Orlando Sentinel reports that a Florida judge has tossed a religious-funding amendment from the 2012 ballot. From the story: A Florida judge has stripped a question from the 2012 election ballot that would have deleted the state's century-old constitutional ban on using taxpayer money "in aid of any church, sect, or religious denomination or in aid of any sectarian institution." The Republican-run Florida Legislature placed Amendment 7, called the "Religious Freedom Act," on the ballot last spring. Supporters have argued the change would delete century-old discrimination from Florida government's formative document.

* The Miami Herald writes that the Florida Panthers hockey team is the latest sports venture talking to big name casinos that could potentially open up in South Florida. From the story: Add the Florida Panthers to the list of South Florida professional sports teams that like the potential synergies between casino gambling and sports. The National Hockey League team has taken several Las Vegas casino operators on tours of the Sunrise property and discussed the possibility of building a destination resort casino on the land surrounding the arena if Florida legislators approve an expansion of casino gambling. The plan is similar to one being explored by the Miami Dolphins.

* The Florida Current writes that the state is finally expected to get a Medicaid waiver. From the story: After 18 months of negotiations and more than a half dozen temporary extensions Florida is poised to received final five-year approval of a sweeping Medicaid waiver. The Agency for Health Care Administration has been notified by the federal government that the waiver is finalized but its approval is imminent, spokeswoman Shelisha Coleman said.

* The Sun-Sentinel writes that widespread bleaching is threatening South Florida coral reefs. From the story: An ashy pallor has spread across South Florida's coral reefs over the past few months, as stressed corals expelled the algae that gives them color. The worst case of coral bleaching since surveys began in 2005 struck reefs from the Florida Keys through Martin County, harming the base of the region's most biologically productive and economically important marine ecosystem.

* The Palm Beach Post reports that the state has given digital animation company Digital Domain license to start offering classes. From the story: The Florida Department of Education has granted Digital Domain Institute a license to operate its experimental film animation school, paving the way for the company to start classes next spring. With the license, company officials say, they'll be able to begin the certificate program in temporary space in CityPlace. A four-year program, in conjunction with the Florida State University film school, is scheduled to open in the fall of 2012, also in CityPlace temporary space.

December 14, 2011

Judge kicks 'religious freedom' amendment off the 2012 ballot

> Posted by Aaron Deslatte on December 14, 2011 12:55 PM

TALLAHASSEE -- A Florida judge has removed a constitutional amendment from the 2012 election ballot that would have deleted the state's ban on using taxpayer money "in aid of any church, sect, or religious denomination or in aid of any sectarian institution."

Supporters of Amendment 7, called the "Religious Freedom Act" in the Republican-controlled Florida Legislature, have argued the change would delete century-old discrimination from Florida government's formative document. The amendment ballot summary also says it would ensure "no individual or entity may be denied, on the basis of religious identity or belief, governmental benefits, funding, or other support."

But Leon County Circuit Judge Terry Lewis said that summary was misleading, writing “It naturally flows from the language deleted and the language added that the primary effect of the amendment will be to make it a lot harder for the state to deny funding or program benefits to a sectarian institution.”

The lawsuit was filed by the Florida Education Association, the statewide teachers' union, along with plaintiffs including: Susan Summers-Persis of Ormond Beach, president of the Florida Association of School Administrators; Rabbi Merrill Shapiro, the Rabbi of Temple Shalom in Deltona; the Rev. Kent Siladi of Rockledge, the Conference Minister for the Florida Conference of the United Church of Christ.

“The judge agreed that taxpayers and voters need to be told the truth and that the purpose and effect of the amendment was not clear in the ballot summary and was misleading to voters," said FEA President Andy Ford in a statement.

The decision doesn't mean the issue wont go before voters -- he wrote in the order that Attorney General Pam Bondi should be able to re-write the ballot summary before it gets to voters. Bondi spokeswoman Jennifer Krell Davis said her office was still reviewing the ruling and declined further comment.

Will Congress restrict travel to Cuba?

> Posted by William Gibson on December 14, 2011 11:54 AM

House and Senate appropriators are considering sharp restrictions on travel to Cuba by Cuban-Americans, an issue that divides House members from Florida.

Kathy Castor

Mario Diaz-Balart

Congressman Mario Diaz-Balart, a Republican from Miami, added the measure to a House spending bill to block new rules created by President Obama in 2009 that give Cuban-Americans unlimited access to their families in Cuba.

Diaz-Balart says more travel brings American dollars to prop up the Castro regime, and he has accused some travel agencies of exploiting the new rules to encourage tourism to the island.

Congresswoman Kathy Castor, a Democrat from Tampa, fired back on Wednesday.

She urged members of a House-Senate conference committee to reject Diaz-Balart’s provision. The conferees are considering the matter while thrashing out a compromise spending bill.

“In addition to limiting access to families, this proposed language would impact the local economy in Florida and impede on current prospects for business investments,” Castor wrote to conferees.

“We must not go back to the days when sons and daughters, brothers and sisters and grandsons and granddaughters were unable to visit sick or dying relatives in Cuba.”

She noted that Obama’s new rules prompted a burst of travel from Florida airports to Cuba.

The conferees are struggling to complete the bill by the end of this week. The final product must be approved by the full House and Senate.

Obama opposes the provision, but he may be reluctant to veto the spending bill, which funds government agencies.

Florida does well at requiring good wages for corporate tax breaks

> Posted by Aaron Deslatte on December 14, 2011 10:53 AM

TALLAHASSEE -- Good Jobs First, a Washington-based non-profit that watches corporate tax subsidies, has given Florida relatively high marks for its efforts to ensure that companies scoring tax-incentives actually pay decent wages.

Florida was tied with Rhode Island at 8th place among the 50 states, with four of the five state subsidy programs setting wage-requirements for the jobs required although none required employers to offer health-benefits. Florida's overall grade was a 58, good for a 'C' under the report's scoring methodology. A state had to score a zero -- with no requirements for wage-standards or health-care -- to get an 'F,' and none did. Still, fewer than half the individual subsidy programs analyzed had no such wage requirements nationwide.

Florida is spending $93 million this year on tax-incentives to businesses and Gov. Rick Scott wants to bump that up to $230 million next year. The state's economic-development efforts have been totally revamped in the last year, and it was revealed this fall that many of the jobs promised over the past 16 years' of economic-development deals haven't materialized.

The report released Wednesday doesn't evaluate how successful the programs were at creating jobs, but did evaluate whether programs had job-related performance safeguards in place. In Florida, state records have shown the vast majority of jobs not created were specified in contracts inked since the economy collapsed in 2007, and the Department of Economic Opportunity has said very few dollars -- less than $20 million -- were paid to companies that didn't meet their job-creation targets.

"This study provides a roadmap for Florida legislators and economic development officials as they attempt to require more accountability from corporations receiving job subsidies," said Alan Stonecipher, communications director of the Florida Center for Fiscal and Economic Policy, a liberal Tallahassee-based think tank that collaborated with Good Jobs First on the report.

"All of the state's approximately three-dozen economic development programs should incorporate the standards recommended by Good Jobs First," he said in a statement. "When companies receiving tax-funded subsidies are required by law to provide high-quality jobs, Floridians can feel more confident that the money is not just given away with little public benefit."

December 13, 2011

Feds want changes to Broward Medicaid reform pilot

> Posted by Aaron Deslatte on December 13, 2011 05:01 PM

By Jim Saunders, The News Service of Florida

TALLAHASSEE -- Federal officials could be close to approving a continuation of Florida's Medicaid managed-care pilot program, but some hospitals are balking at new requirements that could cost them millions of dollars.

The requirements center on part of the pilot known as the Low Income Pool, which funnels $1 billion a year to hospitals and other health providers that serve large numbers of poor and uninsured patients.

As part of continuing the pilot, the federal government would require that Florida carve out $50 million of the $1 billion for new or stepped-up programs aimed at improving the quality of care for low-income people. Federal officials also would place similar requirements on 15 hospitals that receive the most Low Income Pool money.

Phil Williams, a top Florida Medicaid finance official, said Tuesday that the federal government has made clear it plans to include the requirements in any continuation of the pilot program.

"What we're hearing, I would interpret as a final ruling,'' Williams told members of the Low Income Pool Council, an advisory group that works on so-called "LIP" issues.

But setting aside $50 million for the new or enhanced programs likely would divert money that hospitals otherwise use for expenses such as inpatient care. Also, hospitals contend they have already started such programs, including efforts to improve primary care for patients.

LIP Council member John Benz, senior vice president of Memorial Healthcare System in Broward County, said he has contacted U.S. Reps. Debbie Wasserman Schultz and Allen West to intervene with federal Medicaid officials on the issue.

Deanna Schaeffer, an official with Halifax Community Health System in Volusia County, indicated she would take a similar step with members of Congress. She described the proposed federal requirements as an "unfunded mandate.''

But in a draft document that includes the proposed conditions, the federal government signaled that it views patient-care improvements as a key part of the LIP program.

"The LIP provides government support for the safety net providers that furnish uncompensated care to the Medicaid, underinsured and uninsured populations,'' the draft says. "The LIP is also designed to establish new, or enhance existing, innovative programs that meaningfully enhance the quality of care and the health of low income populations.''

The pilot program, which began in 2006, has long been controversial because it requires most Medicaid beneficiaries in Broward, Duval, Clay, Nassau and Baker counties to enroll in managed-care plans. The pilot was scheduled to expire June 30, but Florida has received a series of temporary extensions amid negotiations with the federal government about continuing it through June 2014.

The latest temporary extension is scheduled to end Thursday, but state Medicaid director Justin Senior told a House committee last week that negotiations were close to being finished. Senior said it was possible the federal Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services would grant approval, effective Friday, of continuing the pilot through June 2014.

Williams, an assistant deputy secretary at the state Agency for Health Care Administration, said Tuesday he did not know whether such an approval would come this week. The federal government effectively has final say on such pilot programs because the state is seeking a "waiver" of parts of federal Medicaid law.

The possibility of more conditions on LIP funding comes as hospital-industry officials also worry about deep cuts in other Medicaid-related payments. Gov. Rick Scott last week proposed a budget that would slash Medicaid rates for hospitals as a way to help fund education programs.

Some hospital-industry officials have complained repeatedly in recent weeks about the potential LIP conditions.

Currently, the state spends about $80 million a year of the LIP money on expenses other than basic hospital costs like inpatient care. As an example, $34 million goes to an effort to improve primary care that has been championed by Senate President Mike Haridopolos.

The $50 million would be in addition to that $80 million. Also, the 15 hospitals that receive the most LIP money would be required to use new or enhanced programs to improve quality of care --- or risk the possibility of losing 3.5 percent of their LIP money if they don't comply.

That requirement would particularly hit hospitals that serve large numbers of low-income patients across the state. Among the hospitals: Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami, Broward General Medical Center, Shands Jacksonville, Halifax Health in Daytona Beach, Tampa General Hospital and Lee Memorial Hospital in Fort Myers.

Health-care law pitch comes to Fort Lauderdale

> Posted by William Gibson on December 13, 2011 02:50 PM

The Obama administration, which is aggressively promoting the controversial new health care law, with bring its pitch to Fort Lauderdale on Thursday.

Sol Ross, business outreach director of Health and Human Services, will join with business leaders and health-care policy experts to discuss the Affordable Care Act and how it will create jobs, improve care and save money.

He also will discuss ways to protect senior citizens from Medicare fraud and discuss tools for small businesses to find and compare health insurance plans.

Officials from Florida and some other states have challenged the constitutionality of the new law, which will be reviewed by the U.S. Supreme Court. And Republicans in Congress and on the campaign trail have launched a political assault on what they call “Obamacare.”

These attacks have prompted Health and Human Services to mount a vigorous defense.

The meeting is set for 3 to 4 p.m. at the Greater Fort Lauderdale Chamber of Commerce, 512 NE 3rd Avenue.

What could be changing in Florida Medicaid

> Posted by Aaron Deslatte on December 13, 2011 01:18 PM

TALLAHASSEE -- The health-care advocacy group Florida CHAIN has posted a cheat-sheet of sorts for what changes the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services is poised to approve this week in the state's long-awaited extension of its 2005 managed-care reform project.

The only problem: Florida officials say the extension isn't final yet.

Florida created a five-county pilot project in the Broward and Jacksonville areas to hand over Medicaid patients to managed-care companies and physician networks under Gov. Jeb Bush's administration back in 2005. The project has had some mixed results, with studies suggesting it may have contained costs, but also created dissatisfaction or confusion with patients.

Fast-forward to the present: Florida lawmakers last spring approved a statewide roll-out of the manged-care reform, even though the extension of the pilot project hadn't received federal approval yet. Presumably, any changes to the pilot project will have to be contained within the statewide expansion for it too to gain a federal OK.

And according to Florida CHAIN's Greg Mellowe, the feds have stipulated that the state pilot must make a lot of consumer-friendly changes. He writes the state must "spend at least 85% of taxpayer-funded Medicaid payments on direct patient care or direct care quality improvement activities," "set a well-defined minimum standard for plans to provide Medicaid benefits that meet the needs of at least 98.5% of enrollees," and improve the "choice counseling" services instead of eliminating them, among other changes. Here's Mellowe's full break-down.

But the Florida Agency for Health Care Administration says the talks -- which now face a Thursday deadline that has been extended multiple times -- aren't yet concluded.

"We are still in negotiations regarding the special terms and conditions, but we’re getting close to resolution," AHCA communications director Michelle Dahnke said in an email.

> Posted by Kathleen Haughney on December 13, 2011 08:19 AM

TALLAHASSEE -- It's a dreary Tuesday in the state capital city, but there's plenty of news to read this morning.

Here are the top five stories you should be reading.

* The Sun-Sentinel reports that the state's controversial stand-your-ground law was key in helping a Plantation murder suspect win his case. From the story: For the first time, a Broward County man has successfully used the state's "Stand Your Ground" law to block his prosecution on a first-degree murder charge. Nour Badi Jarkas, 54, of Plantation, was facing trial for the January 2009 shooting death of his estranged wife's boyfriend, John Concannon. But Broward Circuit Judge Ilona Holmes ordered an acquittal after finding that Jarkas was an invited guest in his wife's home and felt threatened during a confrontation with the victim. Prosecutors said Monday they will not appeal.

* The Herald-Tribune released a special report on how law enforcement officers who have faced serious allegations of misconduct stay on the job. From the story: Within the 12,000 pages of personnel and internal affairs documents provided to the Herald-Tribune are the stories of how hundreds of law enforcement officers can stay on the job after serious allegations of misconduct. Most of Florida's 83,000 law enforcement officers do their jobs honorably and in a way that never makes headlines. But the records provided by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, the Department of Corrections and 120 local agencies contain numerous examples of officers who had sex with minors, raped or molested prisoners or otherwise abused their authority. Some of the officers even admitted they had broken the law. But it often did not end their careers.

* The Orlando Sentinel reports that a new study says Medicaid changes could undo Florida's gains. From the story: Proposed changes to the state's Medicaid plan, including one that would charge Florida's beneficiaries $10 a month per family member for coverage, could lead to 800,000 parents and children leaving the program, according to a report released Dec. 7 from the Health Policy Institute at Georgetown University. The potential setback for Medicaid recipients comes on the heels of a report the university released a week earlier showing that Florida had led the nation in getting more uninsured children covered.

* The Florida Current reports on arguments before the 1st DCA over barrel racing at Gretna. From the story: The 1st District Court of Appeal will decide whether to halt barrel races in Gretna while an administrative challenge works its way through the process, after hearing oral arguments in the case Monday in Tallahassee. Regulators with the Division of Pari-Mutuel Wagering issued a license to Gretna Racing LLC in October to hold barrel races in the Gadsden County town. Barrel racing, in which horses maneuver around a set-up of barrels in a rodeo track, had never before been sanctioned as a wagering activity anywhere in the country. The American Quarter Horse Association and the Florida Quarter Horse Racing Association objected to the license on the grounds that barrel racing doesn’t meet the statutory definition of traditional horse racing in Florida, and that it was sought before the traditional timeframe for applications begins in December.

* The Miami Herald writes that talk of oil drilling off Cuba has other people in the industry talking. From the story: As Cuba embarks on a new round of exploratory offshore drilling, U.S. officials are slightly more enlightened about the island nation’s plans in the event of a catastrophic oil spill on the scale of last year’s Deepwater Horizon explosion. Several Caribbean countries, including the United States and Cuba, met last week in the Bahamas to talk about response plans. U.S. officials got an opportunity to see the Cuban disaster response plans — they’ve already participated in a mock response drill in Trinidad with the Spanish oil company that’s doing the first round of drilling. That company, Repsol, also agreed to allow U.S. inspectors from the Interior Department to take a look at the rig that will be doing the drilling.

Liposuction is the focus of bill by So Fla lawmaker

> Posted by Kathleen Haughney on December 13, 2011 08:17 AM

The deaths of four South Florida mothers in their 30s during liposuction procedures helped spark legislation to make the beauty procedure safer, officials said Monday.

A bill advancing in Tallahassee would force most liposuctions to be done in surgery offices inspected by the state and by doctors with life-support training, rather than in unregulated physician offices. That may push up liposuction prices by low-cost cosmetic surgeons at unregulated offices, some doctors say.

"The way liposuction is being done at some of these surgery offices is simply not safe," said Dr. Russell Sassani, owner of the licensed outpatient surgery center Take Shape, in Plantation. "Making these places get certified and inspected … is a great idea."

December 12, 2011

Gov. Scott draws rare praise for Everglades budget

> Posted by William Gibson on December 12, 2011 03:16 PM

Gov. Rick Scott, not normally known for environmental advocacy, drew praise on Monday for proposing $40 million for Everglades restoration next fiscal year, a $10 million increase over this year’s budget.

Gov. Rick Scott

Soon after taking office, Scott had proposed only $17 million for the Everglades for this year, though the Legislature upped it to nearly $30 million.

"The fact that Gov. Scott is willing to more than double his previous request for Everglades funding demonstrates his understanding that protecting the Everglades and our water supply is a necessary ingredient to growing our state's economy," said Kirk Fordham, CEO of the Everglades Foundation, an independent advocacy group.

Environmental activists and some federal officials have been pleasantly surprised by the governor’s willingness in recent months to address water-quality problems and promote restoration. He has been discussing with federal officials, including the EPA, ways to revamp projects to filter out fertilizer and other pollutants while bringing clean water to the Everglades.

Everglades backers say the state’s willingness to keep money flowing will encourage Congress to do the same. The costs of restoration are supposed to be evenly split between Uncle Sam and the state and local communities.

An Everglades Water Supply Summit has been set for Jan. 17-18 in Tallahassee to bring together policymakers, business and civic leaders from across Florida, partly to lobby for more money for the Everglades.

"We are encouraged by Gov. Scott's effort to prioritize Everglades restoration," Fordham said. "We would also ask the Legislature to join Gov. Scott in funding this initiative."

Tea partiers and liberals: BP fines should go Gulf Coast recovery

> Posted by Aaron Deslatte on December 12, 2011 11:23 AM

TALLAHASSEE -- A collective of environmental groups is ratcheting up pressure on Congress to devote a large portion of the fines from last year's BP oil spill to the recovery of the businesses and environmental assets along the Gulf Coast.

The groups released a poll Monday showing that in Florida, support for dedicating the revenue to Gulf of Mexico recovery cuts across party lines and ideologies. The poll --conducted jointing by Democratic firm Hamilton Campaigns and Republican firm Ayres McHenry & Associates -- found 84 percent of Florida likely voters in 2012 support the RESTORE the Gulf Coast States Act, which is co-sponsored by Florida Sens. Marco Rubio and Bill Nelson. The act would dedicate 80 percent of the fines (which could be anywhere from $5 billion to $21 billion) for the oil spill to economic and environmental projects along the Gulf.

The survey found 98 percent of voters -- including 97 percent of tea party supporters -- agreed that the quality of beaches and coastal waters was important to Florida's economy.

"It's rare in our political environment right now that there are issues that bring people together. Voters can agree on problems. They don't like Congress. But the solutions they don't agree on," said Dave Beattie, a Democratic pollster who has worked for Alex Sink, Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer, and Jacksonville Mayor Alvin Brown.

"This is a case where ... there's kind of a common sense agreement that crosses party lines."

The groups behind the poll include the National Audubon Society, National Wildlife Federation, The Nature Conservancy, Ocean Conservancy, and Oxfam America, among others.

The poll found voters in the Panhandle (Pensacola and Panama City) and Miami media markets demonstrated the strongest support for devoting revenues to recovery. But both tea party supporters and GOP primary voters supported the act (84 percent favorability, mof +/- 3.7 percent) just as strongly as Democrats and voters overall. In Miami, 90 percent support the bill. In inland Orlando, 83 percent support it. The West Palm Beach media market has the lowest support for the bill, at 76 percent.

When asked whether the money should go to recovery and clean up/deficit reduction/both/neither, support for devoting it to Gulf recovery remained at 79 percent (80 percent among tea party supporters), with only 12 percent favoring using it to reduce the federal deficit.

The poll surveyed 700 likely voters, and oversampled 100 voters in the Panhandle. It also found President Barack Obama sitting at 44 percent favorability to 53 percent unfavorability, with Gov. Rick Scott holding a 39 percent favorable view among voters, and 47 percent unfavorable.

Sean Crowley with the Environmental Defense Fund in Washington said supporters of the act hoped to get it passed before the presidential election season picks up next year.

Although it has nine House Republican co-sponsors from Florida and nine of the 10 Gulf state senators supporting it, the bill comes with a $1.2 billion in costs because the oil-spill fines wouldn't go into the treasury, according to the Congressional Budget Office. That has caused it some problems in the Senate, supporters said Monday.

"Time is our enemy. We all know that," Crowley said. "We all know the sooner this bill gets done, the better."

LV Sands to Bondi: More law enforcement action against banks than casinos

> Posted by Kathleen Haughney on December 12, 2011 09:43 AM

TALLAHASSEE -- Las Vegas Sands, which has been lobbying for the destination casino bill for the past several years, released a public letter to Attorney General Pam Bondi this morning from Sands VP Andy Abboud as a counter to Bondi's comments in opposition to the destination casino effort.

Last week, Bondi criticized the gambling bill at a press conference hosted by 'No Casinos," an anti gambling group from the past that reorganized this year to fight the destination casino bill.

Here's the LV Sands letter

***********
The Honorable Pam Bondi

Attorney General

Plaza Level 01, The Capitol

400 South Monroe Street

Tallahassee, FL 32399-1050

Dear General Bondi:

I felt it was important to respond to your comments made during the December 8, 2011 press conference you participated in with the Florida Chamber of Commerce, the Florida Sheriff's Association, Commissioner Adam Putnam, and representatives from "No Casinos"

During the press conference and in a subsequent press release you stated "I've spoken with law enforcement officers who have confirmed that casinos are a magnet for money laundering.". You even referred to an alleged example at the Tampa Hard Rock Casino where you said drug dealers utilized the facility to launder funds. We, of course, have no knowledge what may or may not have happened at the Tampa Hard Rock Casino.

However, what we can say is that the Department of the Treasury and in particular the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) has promulgated regulations under Title 31 of the Code of Federal Regulations and as authorized under the Bank Secrecy Act that are applicable to casinos and financial institutions in general and that address Anti-Money Laundering. Compliance with these requirements is audited by the Internal Revenue Service or other federal regulatory agencies. You could take a look at the FinCEN website at http://www.fincen.gov/ for records of enforcement actions and determine the compliance record of casinos versus other financial institutions. We think you will find that there may have been more enforcement actions against banks and other financial institutions than casinos.

While I certainly respect your moral opposition to expanded gaming I must reiterate to you that Florida is currently a gaming state. There is no form of gambling that cannot occur in the State or on its waters. Between full scale tribal casinos, pari-mutuels with slot machines, poker, and wagering on races, cruises to nowhere with full scale casinos, internet cafes with slot machines, senior arcades, and the state sponsored lottery there is hardly an area of the state where your residents can not gamble.

While it is up to the state policymakers to determine the State's direction and my company would certainly not try to enter the State through a creative loophole or enter a place where we were not wanted I feel compelled to encourage you to address the state of gaming in Florida.

The way that you prevent the many issues you were discussing yesterday in your press conference is through a strict regulatory process with highly vetted operators. You ensure operators are not entering the State through creative loopholes in the law and that the only type of gaming that occurs in Florida is that type of gaming that the legislature and the Governor have vetted and approved.

Florida can no longer live under the illusion that it is a state that does not have gaming. However, your State has an excellent opportunity to do things the right way and ensure you attract the type of operators and facilities you can be proud of.

We look forward to working with policymakers and current legitimate industry stakeholders toward this goal.

Monday Morning Reads: Texting, reforming and the culture of hazing

> Posted by Kathleen Haughney on December 12, 2011 08:35 AM

TALLAHASSEE -- Good morning and happy Monday to you. Florida lawmakers returned to their home districts after a hectic final committee week before the full legislative session begins that will be fraught with political fights over redistricting, gambling expansion and personal injury protection insurance.

But for now, here are the top five stories you should be reading this morning.

* The Orlando Sentinel reports that lawmakers may gut programs in the name of reform. From the story: It may be the most overused buzzword in the halls of the Florida Capitol: reform. But from classrooms and college campuses to unemployment lines and doctor's offices, Florida's annual financial woes have provided ammunition for Republican lawmakers who want to impose more ideological or market-based changes on Florida's massive $21 billion Medicaid program, schools and its once-heralded growth-management laws. The legislative session set to begin Jan. 10 looks like a new year, same song.

* The Sun-Sentinel reports that for the upcoming legislative session, social issues are low on lawmakers' priority lists. From the story: Anti-immigration rhetoric flared up on Florida's 2010 campaign trail and became a winning wedge issue for Gov. Rick Scott, who used it to woo the tea party and help win election. But with the 2012 legislative session fast approaching, social issues such as immigration, abortion and welfare change are taking a back seat in the state capital. "I think that the top three issues will be job creation, a responsible budget that doesn't raise taxes and reapportionment," said House Speaker Dean Cannon. "And those things alone will occupy a huge amount of space during the process. Everything else — gaming, immigration, you name it — I would say is second to those three goals."

* The Palm Beach Post delivers a comprehensive look at the culture of hazing in light of the hazing scandal at Florida A&M. From the story: Robert Champion should be stepping with his cherished "Marching 100" band at Florida A&M University's fall commencement on Friday. Instead, hundreds of mourners gathered on Nov. 30 in Georgia, where 26-year-old Champion was laid to rest in his school uniform, a polished baton in his hand. Champion's lifelong dream was to become a member of the university's renowned band and ascend to the elite status of drum major. That dream may have led to his death. Authorities say hazing in the band at the historically black university in Tallahassee played a role in his death, but they have not released details. FAMU President James Ammons has vowed since Champion's death to end hazing at the school.

* Is this the year for banning texting while driving? Maybe, writes the St. Petersburg Times. From the story: Florida remains one of 15 states without a ban on texting while driving, even as more people admit to the habit and support a law that would deter it. There's a chance — a small one — state lawmakers will enact a ban during their 60-day legislative session that starts in January. Experts, though, are split on whether the bans make the roads safer.

* The St. Petersburg Times also writes that Lieutenant Gov. Jennifer Carroll may play a more prominent role in the upcoming legislative session. From the story: Carroll was surprised her legislative experience wasn't exploited and blamed it on a Scott staff that largely has been replaced. Carroll said she'll have a more prominent role in the 2012 session that starts next month. "We'll have a different view for my role in the legislative agenda this year," Carroll said in an interview. She said she'll focus on Scott's economic development and higher education priorities.

December 9, 2011

Is former Dem leader Sands looking at commissioner's race?

> Posted by Kathleen Haughney on December 9, 2011 04:26 PM

My Sun-Sentinel colleague Brittany Wallman has a tidbit on Rep. Franklin Sands, D-Weston, looking at a run for the county commission. Sands, who served as the House Democratic leader from 2008 to 2010, is term limited out of the Legislature after this year.

**********Is state Rep. Franklin Sands, D-Weston, considering a run for Broward County Commission, for the open seat that Commissioner Ilene Lieberman is leaving?

Sands said he'd "heard that also,'' when I called to ask earlier this week.

"At this point, I am a candidate for the school board,'' he said. Sands is running for the at-large District 8 seat.

Sands' son is lobbyist and Democratic fund-raiser Alex Heckler. Heckler is actually his step-son, but Sands called that a technicality, saying "Alex is my son.''

Gambling impact figures still 'squishy'

> Posted by Kathleen Haughney on December 9, 2011 04:24 PM

By Jim Saunders at the News Service of Florida

TALLAHASSEE --- Faced with a series of unanswered questions, economists said Friday they could not pinpoint how much money the state would rake in if Florida lawmakers approve a plan for three resort casinos.

The best guess: $455.7 million over the next four years. But the economists said the tax impact of the controversial casino plan is "indeterminate" because of the need to make key assumptions --- a situation that led House economist Don Langston to describe the numbers as "pretty squishy.''

"I think there's just too many assumptions that may be good assumptions, but there's just too many of them,'' Senate economist Jose Diez-Arguelles said.

Officials from the House, Senate and Office of Economic & Demographic Research have grappled in recent weeks with trying to figure out how much tax money would spin off from proposed bills that would allow up to three "destination" resort casinos in the state.

The discussions have included issues such as licensing fees, sales taxes generated from resort construction and the amounts that would be wagered. But the issues also have included potential losses in revenue from a state gambling agreement with the Seminole Indian tribe.

Some of the issues might appear easy to resolve. As an example, the economists estimated the state could bring in as much as $155 million during the 2012-13 fiscal year from application and licensing fees.

But that number assumes three casino applicants would be approved and that each would pay $50 million in licensing fees. If only one or two were approved, the $155 million total would plummet.

Also, economists focused on the potential of bringing in $60.6 million in 2013-14 and $102.9 million in 2014-15 as the casinos are built. The bills call for each casino owner to spend $2 billion on building and equipping the facilities, which would also include amenities such as convention space and shopping.

But Amy Baker, coordinator of the Office of Economic & Demographic Research, said she was concerned about the construction-related tax estimates because of uncertainty about the number of casinos and what she described as a "very ambitious" timeline for building them. Baker said the projects could run into delays because of issues such as permitting.

The casinos are projected to start operating during the 2015-16 fiscal year, with economists looking at the possibility of reaping $137.2 million in taxes that year. While the plan was designed to allow the casinos in Miami-Dade and Broward counties, it could also apply to other counties.

Though not a factor during Friday's discussions, it appears almost certain the casino proposal will undergo changes. Senate sponsor Ellyn Bogdanoff, R-Fort Lauderdale, said this week she will propose changes, after members of the Senate Regulated Industries questioned parts of the plan, including a 10 percent tax rate on gambling revenues.

The House version, sponsored by Rep. Erik Fresen, R-Miami, has not been debated in committees. If either the House or Senate bills change, economists would have to look at the new versions to try to determine the impact on taxes.

Gingrich campaign names Abrams its Palm Beach chairman

> Posted by William Gibson on December 9, 2011 03:58 PM

The Newt Gingrich campaign has named an old acquaintance, Steven Abrams of Boca Raton, its Palm Beach County chairman.

Steven Abrams

Abrams, former mayor of Boca Raton and now a county commissioner, has known Gingrich since 1981, when Abrams worked for the National Republican Congressional Committee and Gingrich was an obscure second-term congressman from Georgia.

“He introduced me to my wife,” Abrams said. Wife Debbie Abrams, who was then Gingrich’s press secretary, is a volunteer in his presidential campaign.

Gingrich has remained in close contact with the couple, through his rise and fall as House speaker and his prolific career as an author and lecturer.

“There is a really good scenario for him to win the (Republican) nomination,” Abrams said. “Assuming he does well in Iowa and Romney does not do as well, by the time he gets to New Hampshire, a lot of other candidates will be forced to drop out.

“If (Jon) Huntsman takes votes away from Romney in New Hampshire, Newt has a good shot to win or come close.

“Florida becomes a key state. At that point, if Newt does well in Florida, it’s hard to make a case that momentum doesn’t just carry him through.”

> Posted by Kathleen Haughney on December 9, 2011 09:14 AM

TALLAHASSEE -- The week has finally come to an end and the lawmakers were sent on their merry way home to return in January for the start of the legislative session.

Both the Legislature and Gov. Rick Scott were plenty busy this week with the release of Scott's budget and hearings on a number of bills. So, let's get you started today with the top five stories you should be reading.

* The Orlando Sentinel reported that the Florida A&M trustees reprimanded university President James Ammons at a meeting this week for his actions since the hazing death of Marching 100 Drum Major Robert Champion. From the story: Trustee Rufus Montgomery had pushed to place Ammons on leave while state law enforcement officials investigate the circumstances that caused Champion's death after an apparent hazing ritual in Orlando last month. But the board of trustees instead decided to issue a reprimand to make its displeasure known. Ammons, FAMU's president since 2007, declined to comment other than to say: "I heard the board loudly and clearly."

* The Florida Current reports that the Senate Finance and Tax Committee will draft an Internet sales tax bill. From the story: Committee chair Sen. Ellyn Bogdanoff, R-Fort Lauderdale, said the proposed committee bill will make any tax increase revenue neutral, either by an overall drop in property or sales taxes or by setting aside four sales tax holiday weekends per year. Conventional retailers and “brick-and-mortar” stores say they face a disadvantage compared to online retailers, which don’t invest in local communities and are exempt from the sales tax.

* The Palm Beach Post writes that hospitals began pushing back against cuts proposed in the governor's budget proposal. From the story: Florida hospitals, though, said Scott's approach will prove devastating -- especially to urban hospitals, including West Palm Beach's St. Mary's Medical Center and Bethesda Hospital in Boynton Beach, which treat many of the state's poorest residents. St. Mary's could lose $11 million in Medicaid payments, industry analysts said. All told, Scott's proposal would slash almost 40 percent of the $5.2 billion in Medicaid payments to Florida hospitals. "We don't support either the magnitude of the cut, or the policy behind it," said Paul Belcher, lobbyist for the Florida Hospital Association.

* The Palm Beach Post writes that the state Supreme Court will take up a Palm Beach foreclosure case because it could have a statewide impact. From the story: The Florida Supreme Court said Thursday it will rule on an already settled Palm Beach County foreclosure case because the opinion could impact the "mortgage foreclosure crisis throughout this state." The court was divided on the unusual decision to hear the settled case, which involves allegedly fraudulent bank documents. But four of the seven justices said the legal question posed transcends the individual Greenacres homeowner and is one that needs to be answered for lower courts and litigants.

* The Miami Herald reports that a grand jury blasted the state for allowing troubled assisted living facilities to stay open. From the story: A Miami-Dade grand jury blasted the state for allowing troubled assisted living facilities to stay open instead of reaching into its arsenal to crack down on the worst abusers, including imposing steeper fines, shutting down troubled homes and weeding out rogue operators.
The report, released Thursday, put the blame squarely on the Agency for Health Care Administration for permitting dangerous homes to keep their doors open and not “doing a more effective job of enforcement.”

December 8, 2011

Bondi comes out against gambling bill

> Posted by Kathleen Haughney on December 8, 2011 07:42 PM

TALLAHASSEE -- As lawmakers began chipping away at a controversial gambling bill that would bring three high-end destination casino resorts to Florida, the state's top law enforcement official entered the debate, announcing she was opposed to any more casinos coming to Florida, linking increased gambling to increased crime.

"As a former prosecutor, I share the concerns of law enforcement that authorizing mega-casinos will lead to increased crime," Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi said. "I cannot stand by and watch the groundwork being laid for casinos to exist throughout our state."

South Fla Rep. Rogers under investigation

> Posted by Kathleen Haughney on December 8, 2011 07:37 PM

State and federal authorities are investigating allegations that state Rep. Hazelle Rogers failed to disclose payments she received for lobbying for a construction company before voting to award it a contract to build a library and cultural center.

Rogers, D-Lauderdale Lakes, received in excess of $20,000 to lobby for former Miami Dolphin Dwight Stephenson's construction firm when she was a city commissioner, then voted in 2007 to give Stephenson's company the job, sources familiar with the case said Thursday.

Stephenson is not under investigation or accused of wrongdoing, the sources said, and the inquiry is focused on Rogers' alleged failure to disclose a potential conflict of interest and failing to file forms disclosing the payments as required by law.

The Daily Show's target of the day: Pam Bondi

> Posted by Kathleen Haughney on December 8, 2011 02:25 PM

TALLAHASSEE -- Aasif Mandvi from 'The Daily Show' made a splash yesterday when he asked Gov. Rick Scott if he'd provide a urine sample during a press conference where the governor unveiled his 2012-2013 budget.

Today, his target was Pam Bondi.

Bondi was taking part in a press conference with the group No Casinos to denounce the expansion of gambling. Mandvi and his crew waited outside to talk to Bondi, who had apparently prepared for the confrontation and handed Mandvi a container filled with light colored liquid.

Mandvi later told Bondi's communications director Jennifer Meale that the liquid smelled like apple juice and asked if she would drink it. Meale said no and warned Mandvi that the general liked to eat a lot of apples.

Meale said Mandvi later did drink the liquid and proclaimed it apple juice.

Hospitals say gov's budget could mean big hit against them

> Posted by Kathleen Haughney on December 8, 2011 01:52 PM

TALLAHASSEE -- It's been about 24 hours since Gov. Rick Scott unveiled his budget for the next fiscal year, which included cuts to health care providers who largely treat the poor.

Scott's plan would essentially flatten the reimbursement rates paid to hospitals and health-maintenance organizations. Currently, those in more urban and expensive areas – primarily South Florida -- are reimbursed at higher rates.

Medicaid rates currently vary between hospitals because Medicaid reimburses on the average costs for services instead of the specific service. So, a hospital that offers more specialized care, such as a Level I trauma center or a neonatal intensive care unit will have higher average Medicaid costs.

Scott budget director Jerry McDaniel told members of the Senate Budget Committee today that the governor's office wanted to meet with House and Senate to discuss a better methodology to reimburse hospitals, while Senate Democratic Leader Nan Rich voiced concerns that the cuts could be devastating to hospitals.

Safety Net Hospital Alliance released its analysis of how they think Scott's budget proposal would impact individual hospitals.

Florida poll puts Gingrich ahead of Romney

> Posted by William Gibson on December 8, 2011 10:16 AM

Newt Gingrich has surged into the lead in the Florida Republican presidential primary race, according to a poll released on Thursday by Quinnipiac University.

Newt Gingrich

The statewide poll puts Gingrich atop the Republican field with 35 percent, followed by Mitt Romney with 22 percent. All other candidates were in single digits, indicating that the primary campaign has become a two-man race.

But the poll found that Romney would fare slightly better in a general-election matchup with President Obama. Romney leads Obama in Florida by 45 percent to 42 percent, the poll says, while Obama leads Gingrich by 46 percent to 44 percent.

The poll found similar results in the pivotal states of Ohio and Pennsylvania.

Gingrich “is no longer just the flavor of the month, since his boomlet has now stretched from November into December and voting begins in Iowa in less than four weeks,” said Peter Brown, assistant director of Quinnipiac polling.

“Gingrich certainly has the momentum on his side and is peaking at the right moment, but Romney has the edge in money and organization, which can be important especially if the primary race turns out to be a long, drawn-out affair.”

Attorney General taking sides in gambling debate -- She's not for it

> Posted by Kathleen Haughney on December 8, 2011 09:26 AM

TALLAHASSEE --- Attorney General Pam Bondi is lending her voice to the gambling debate.

Her office just released an advisory saying the attorney general would participate in an anti gambling expansion press conference at noon today.

The legislation to bring destination casinos to Florida has had six hours of vetting by a Senate committee, but it has gotten off to a rocky start. Members of the Senate Regulated Industries Committee suggested a number of changes to bill sponsor Sen. Ellyn Bogdanoff, R-Fort Lauderdale, and many suggested that the Legislature was simply moving to fast on the issue.

The committee is expected to take a vote on the bill during the first week of the legislative session. It could have tough sledding ahead though. Before it gets to the floor, it will have to go through the Rules Committee, chaired by Sen. John Thrasher, R-St. Augustine, who is highly opposed to the bill. Senate President Mike Haridopolos has promised he would let the bill have an up or down vote on the floor.

> Posted by Aaron Deslatte on December 8, 2011 09:03 AM

TALLAHASSEE -- It's the last full day of committee meetings before the long winter break, which will last about three weeks before lawmakers return to the Capitol for a once-a-decade redistricting session in January.

In the Senate, Gov. Rick Scott's budget staff will fan out to present his $66.4 billion spending plan to legislative budget-writers, beginning with the Senate Budget Committee at 9 a.m. The governor's plan would boost education spending, but also impose steep cuts on safety-net hospitals. The Senate committee is also slated to hear a presentation on state-employee health benefits compared to private benefits.

The online sales-tax collection debate is set to get a hearing in the Senate Finance and Tax Committee at 1 p.m. The Florida business lobby is pushing lawmakers to start collecting online taxes on companies like Amazon, but the issue will be a heavy lift in a redistricting-dominated session.

The Senate's Subcommittee on Transportation, Tourism, and Economic Development Appropriations is slated to hear a bill, SB 196, on child safety devices in cars by Sen. Thad Altman, R-Viera, and Scott's $230 million ask for business incentives.

The House is all about redistricting, with workshops in all three of the chamber's subcommittees reviewing congressional, House and Senate proposals for maps. The House this week released 12 map proposals, and will be looking at the Senate's plans for its districts. You can review them here. The House's congressional and Senate subsommittees meet at noon and the House committee -- reviewing five different proposals for re-drawing its own 120 seats -- goes from 2:30 p.m. to 6 p.m.

In other business, the House Judiciary Committee is holding a workshop on human trafficking at 9 a.m., and Rep.Scott Plakon's Climate Protection Act (HB 4001) gets a hearing in the State Affairs Committee at the same time. The bill would repeal the statutory framework for cap and trade regulations for utilities to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Thursday Morning Reads: Scott's budget and the 'Daily Show'

> Posted by Kathleen Haughney on December 8, 2011 08:44 AM

TALLAHASSEE -- Gov. Rick Scott unveiled his $66.4 billion budget yesterday that included a boost in spending for public schools, but cuts to health care providers who largely treat the poor.

The unveiling dominated the capital news cycle yesterday, not just because of the actual budget, but because the budget press conference was interrupted by a Daily Show who asked the governor if he was willing to provide a urine sample in a blue cup.

And with that, here are the top five stories you should be reading this morning.

* The Orlando Sentinel gives a detailed account of the governor's budget. From the story: Reversing course from his first year in office, Gov. Rick Scott asked lawmakers Wednesday to put $1 billion more back into public schools, a cash infusion financed largely through cuts to hospitals and health-care providers that treat the sick and poor. The $66.4 billion budget the governor unveiled Wednesday -- $2.7 billion less than current spending -- is just a starting point for lawmakers to use in the coming months as they attempt to close a nearly $2 billion shortfall. But Scott's school-funding proposal represents an abrupt about-face from last February when he used a tea party crowd in Eustis to pitch a $1.8 billion cut to schools and $500 million more for corporate tax cuts.

* The Sun- Sentinel reports that disgraced Broward Teachers' Union chief Pat Santeramo could see a major payout as he leaves his post later this month. From the story: How much does it pay to be a disgraced union boss? A lot, apparently. President Pat Santeramo, whose resignation from the Broward Teachers Union is effective Dec. 31, stands to get $255,020.81 for 230 vacation days and 122 sick days. The union says it's reviewing that amount.

* The Herald reports that the casino bill saw a big of resistance from members of the committee completing the initial review of the legislation. From the story: The Senate sponsor of a bill to bring destination resort casinos to South Florida faced a hostile first committee Wednesday even as economists came up with a new projection that shows the project will bring the state a windfall of between $327 million and $455 million in new revenue. A majority of the members of the Senate Regulated Industries Committee, traditionally a welcome place for casino expansion legislation, told Sen. Ellyn Bogdanoff they’d like to see significant changes to the bill before they agree to support it.

* The Palm Beach Post reports that environmentalists were able to successfully block rock mining of an area south of Lake Okeechobee, with a new appeals court ruling. From the story: For the second time in four months, environmentalists seeking to block rocking mining south of Lake Okeechobee have won a favorable appellate court ruling against Palm Beach County and Rinker Materials of Florida.
In a single-page ruling issued today, the Fourth District Court of Appeal blocked plans to build a proposed mine, finding there was not enough evidence to prove aggregate from the mine would be used for either agricultural or public road-building projects.

* The Orlando Sentinel reports that Florida A & M has suspended its decision to fire band director Julian White. From the story: The four Florida A&M University students targeted for dismissal after a fellow student died from an apparent hazing ritual might not face disciplinary action anytime soon. Same goes for the band director, who the university planned to fire because of problems with hazing among music students. FAMU has decided to put off all disciplinary actions and internal reviews pending the results of an investigation by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, university officials told the school's board of trustees Wednesday.

December 7, 2011

House passes Rooney bill to curb regulations

> Posted by William Gibson on December 7, 2011 06:07 PM

Aiming to curb “job-killing” federal regulations, the Republican-run House on Wednesday passed a bill co-sponsored by South Florida Congressman Tom Rooney that would give Congress power to reject federal rules that have an economic impact of more than $100 million.

Tom Rooney

The bill reflects a Republican determination to block rules – such as clean-water requirements -- that they think stifle business growth and cost a lot for local communities to implement. Democrats say it would jeopardize such things as clean air and water, product safety and access to health care.

The bill passed 241-184 but almost certainly will die in the Senate. The White House has threatened to veto it if it does pass.

“Small business owners repeatedly cite excessive federal mandates as one of the biggest obstacles they face,” said Rooney, a Republican from Tequesta. “By cutting through the red tape and stopping the administration from imposing costly new mandates, we can get the federal government off the backs of small businesses, and let them do what they do best – grow and create jobs.”

TANF lawsuit now has certified class

> Posted by Kathleen Haughney on December 7, 2011 05:03 PM

TALLAHASSEE -- Federal Judge Mary Scriven has certified a class in an ACLU case to stop state drug testing of welfare recipients.

Scriven had previously ordered that the state halt its drug testing program of welfare recipients, but held off on certifying a class for the case. Lawyers for the state refused to agree to certification.

The case was initially filed on behalf of Luis W. Lebron, a 35-year-old University of Central Florida student who served in the Navy, applied with the Florida Department of Children and Families for emergency cash assistance this summer to help raise his 4-year-old son.

With a class, the case can continue on behalf of welfare applicants whether or not Lebron remains eligible for welfare.

Lawmakers, Scott agency heads weigh in on budget proposal

> Posted by Kathleen Haughney on December 7, 2011 04:25 PM

TALLAHASSEE -- Gov. Rick Scott released his budget proposal earlier today, calling for a major boost in education and cuts to health care providers.

House Speaker Dean Cannon
“It is important that we send the right signals to the business community by working hard to create an environment that demonstrates stability and inspires confidence in business owners who create the jobs Floridians so desperately need. By again recommending a balanced budget that does not raise taxes, Governor Scott has reaffirmed his commitment to existing Florida businesses and taken another important step to attract out-of-state businesses considering locating or expanding in Florida.

Senate President Mike Haridopolos

“While our state continues to struggle in this difficult economic climate, the Florida Senate is committed to producing a balanced budget that champions stability and predictability for our state’s business owners and entrepreneurs. And I look forward to working closely with Governor Scott throughout the 2012 Legislative Session to accomplish our shared goals for the State of Florida.”

House Democratic Leader Ron Saunders

Governor Scott's budget proposal begins an important conversation in the Florida Legislature about priorities. I am pleased the governor is expressing what members of the Florida House Democratic Caucus have been saying for a long time: Floridians value public education and want it adequately funded.

"I am concerned about some of the governor's recommendations, including what could be potentially harmful cuts to social services and health care programs for Floridians.

Senate Democratic Leader Nan Rich

On behalf of the Senate Democratic Caucus, along with hundreds of thousands of children and their families throughout the state, we welcome Governor Scott’s new found fervor for public education and his surprising decision to join Democrats in supporting one of our top priorities.

“I am very concerned, however, about where the governor proposes to find the billion dollars he says he will commit to public school children and what parts of public education he proposes to support. Pitting one critical priority against another is not the solution Floridians expect from the leader of the fourth largest state in the nation. School books versus seniors or teachers versus public safety should not be among the options. Neither should the diversion of taxpayer dollars to corporations peddling the latest fads in virtual education.

Lawmakers begin chipping away at gambling proposal

> Posted by Kathleen Haughney on December 7, 2011 04:14 PM

TALLAHASSEE -- A panel of Florida lawmakers got its first chance to start picking away at a controversial gambling bill that would bring three destination casino resorts to Florida, and the overriding message for sponsor Sen. Ellyn Bogdanoff, R-Fort Lauderdale, was that she should move slowly.

A host of major changes to the bill were proposed by key members of the Senate Regulated Industries Committee, which is the first committee the bill must pass in order to move on. Suggested changes included more table games and a lower tax rate for existing racinos in South Florida and a higher tax rate for the any new destination casinos that move into the state. The current legislation has a 10 percent tax rate for destination resorts; in comparison, racinos pay a 35 percent tax on slot earnings.

But lawmakers on both sides of the political spectrum also showed reticence in giving the destination resort concept a swift proposal when they return for the legislation session Jan. 10.

Sen. John Thrasher, R-St. Augustine, who chairs the powerful Rules Committee, said he felt that that the Legislature should first address current gambling loopholes that have led to several smaller counties recently applying for gambling permits around the state, and then take a slower approach to the destination resort plan. He said he felt that the bill would be a “major change in the culture and brand of the state of Florida” and that It was something lawmakers “really need to reflect on.”

“This is an expansion, a major expansion of gambling in Florida,” he said. “In fact, while it’s referenced as limited game, it really is not. It’s every type of casino game authorized in the bill, 24 hours, 7 days a week, 365 days per year. “

Senate President Mike Haridopolos has promised that the legislation would receive an up or down vote on the floor, but acknowledged that Thrasher was a “trusted adviser” who held major sway among the members.

“If he’s able to convince the majority of the membership that they should slow it down, then of course it might happen,” he said.

Bogdanoff said that she felt that if the Legislature didn’t pass her bill, which also creates a gaming commission to highly regulate the industry, the state would never address some of the outstanding gaming issues such as Internet cafes, which many lawmakers want to shut down.

“If this bill doesn’t move forward and we don’t holistically address gaming in this state, I don’t think we’re addressing internet cafes , I don’t think we’re addressing any of it,” she said. “Because we have his just ignored it because it is a very difficult topic to do.”

'Daily Show' reporter asks Scott for a urine sample

> Posted by Aaron Deslatte on December 7, 2011 02:20 PM

TALLAHASSEE -- A reporter with Comedy Central's "The Daily Show" showed up at Gov. Rick Scott's budget unveiling Wednesday to ask him to take a drug test -- a reference to the testing he wants to impose on state employees and welfare applicants.

The reporter, Aasif Mandvi, stood up in the middle of the governor's questioning, and asked Scott if he would be willing to take the test since he too was using hundreds of thousands of taxpayer dollars" in carrying out his job.

"I've done it plenty of times," the governor responded.

Encouraged by the answer, Mandvi then tried to get other reporters to pass a pee-cup up to the governor, drawing a few complaints from executive staff.

"I hate to keep harping on this, but would you pee into the cup?" he asked repeatedly.

Scott then returned to questions from other reporters, and never took the cup.

Scott's administration is defending a law requiring state employees to take drug tests, and appealing a federal judge's injunction of another drug-testing law for welfare applicants. Both were campaign pledges from the first-year governor, but have drawn the ire of labor unions, the American Civil Liberties Union -- and now, apparently, Jon Stewart.

West and Rooney to help decide defense spending

> Posted by William Gibson on December 7, 2011 02:12 PM

South Florida Republicans Allen West and Tom Rooney were named on Wednesday to a congressional panel that will decide the future of defense spending, a major issue as Congress struggles to save money in the wake of wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.

Allen West from Army days

Reps. West, a freshman from Plantation, and Rooney, a two-term member from Tequesta, will join a conference committee of House and Senate leaders expected to hammer out final provisions of the defense authorization act, which provides resources for troops abroad.

West has pushed through some trims to the defense budget while struggling to prevent more significant cutbacks.

"It is important the final version of the National Defense Authorization Act include the cuts to wasteful defense spending I proposed," said West, a retired Army lieutenant colonel. "It is also just as important that the NDAA protect essential defense programs.”

The House approved West’s proposal to cut 10 percent from the Pentagon’s printing costs, which would save about $180 million through fiscal 2016. The defense bill also includes his legislation to reduce funding for defense studies, analysis and evaluations by 10 percent, which would save up to $120 million through 2016.

He has warned, however, against deeper cuts while the nation remains on guard against terrorism.

Rooney, a former Army prosecutor, said one of his top priorities is to "strengthen policies to detain and prosecute terrorists and ensure that no terrorist detainee can be brought into the United States."

"Trying detainees in military tribunals at Guantanamo Bay is the best way to hold terrorists accountable, keep them out of our country and prevent them from rejoining the fight.”

Scott's education boost comes by gutting Medicaid hospitals

> Posted by Aaron Deslatte on December 7, 2011 01:50 PM

TALLAHASSEE -- Gov. Rick Scott's proposed 2012-13 budget would include $1 billion more in education spending, $35 million more in tax cuts for companies, and cuts to health-care providers that treat Medicaid patients.

The $66.4 billion budget the governor unveiled Wednesday is just a starting point for lawmakers to use in the coming months as they attempt to close a nearly $2 billion shortfall. But Scott's school-funding proposal represents an abrupt about-face from a year ago when he proposed an even bigger education cut than his fellow Republican lawmakers could swallow.

The governor's new plan would be smaller than the current $69.1 billion budget, and would reduce state spending by 4.6 percent, according to the governor's office. The overview suggests the $22 billion Medicaid program would absorb a roughly $2 billion cut -- likely falling on the backs of hospitals.

Scott said lawmakers would have to make "tough choices" to reform the health-care program for the poor and sick in order to meet his goals for school-funding. "No program has grown this far and this fast," Scott said.

"The only way to fund the continued growth in this entitlement ... is to make cuts to other programs, or significant reforms of the payment methodologies."

He called the current system that pays some hospitals -- primarily those in South Florida -- higher reimbursement rates than others "unfair."

Another area of the governor's proposal to lawmakers that would take a hit is corrections, which has seen slower-growth than expected in the prison population. Scott said the budget would include shuttering some prisons.

The governor's budget proposal also includes:

-- Putting $300 million in the state pension fund;

-- $35 million in tax cuts, which includes a further reduction in corporate income tax rates for small businesses;

-- Increasing per-pupil spending to $6,372 over last year, when Scott and lawmakers imposed a $1.3 billion cut to public schools, or about $6,230 per-student. The increase would amount to about $1 billion, and account for funding some 30,000 new students. "I'm not signing a budget that doesn't significantly increase funding for education," Scott said.

Even with the increase, the school-funding level would be roughly $460 less per-pupil than it was two years ago.

Wednesday Morning Reads: Panic buttons, lawsuits and slot machines

> Posted by Kathleen Haughney on December 7, 2011 07:16 AM

TALLAHASSEE -- The governor is set to unveil his budget today and already a few details are trickling out, including a decision to back away from a plan to recapture savings local governments had from pension changes and that he will call for big increases in education spending.

Another gambling workshop is the other big meeting of the day, so with that, we'll give you the top five stories you should be reading this morning.

* The News Service of Florida reports that Gov. Rick Scott will call for $1 billion in additional spending for education in his budget proposal. From the story: Gov. Rick Scott is set to propose a $1 billion increase in education spending over this year and is planning to call Wednesday for a boost to per-student spending despite a state revenue shortfall and lower local school tax dollars.
In a conference call with state school superintendents Tuesday, Scott said he plans to call for lawmakers to increase per-pupil spending from $6,262 to $6,372, even after factoring in expected growth of about 30,000 more students over the current school year.

* The Sun-Sentinel writes that Palm Beach County commissioners have given the go ahead for a referendum on slot machines. From the story: Palm Beach County's push for slot machines gained steam Tuesday, but backers of expanded gambling still haven't hit the jackpot. The County Commission Tuesday gave initial approval for a referendum in November that would ask voters to allow slot machines at pari-mutuel facilities in Palm Beach County. The commission holds a final vote Dec. 20 on the slot-machine referendum.

* The Palm Beach Post reports that Palm Beach County is suing Gov. Rick Scott and Attorney General Pam Bondi over a new law that restricts local gun control measures. The suit challenges the penalties that can be levied against commissioners and other government officials for failing to abide by the new law, saying that the sanctions "are simply a form of political bullying that serves no governmental purpose." Under the gun law, which took effect Oct. 1, elected officials may face fines of up to $5,000 and possibly be removed from office by the governor if they violate the provisions.

* The Orlando Sentinel reports that the House released its version of legislative and congressional maps yesterday. From the story: The Florida House released its first drafts of congressional and legislative maps Tuesday, formally beginning the long and politically perilous process of carving out new electoral turf. Like proposed Senate maps released last week, most of the seven House drafts of 27 congressional districts – an increase of two thanks to the state's 18-percent population growth in the last decade – would add a new east Orlando/Osceola district that could elect a Hispanic Democrat.

* The St. Petersburg Times reports that the Senate has installed panic buttons just months after a new gun law allowed visitors to the capitol to carry hand guns. From the story: Metal detectors at the entrance of the state Capitol help protect Florida lawmakers.
Security personnel watch over every committee meeting. But two months after a new law made it easier to bring concealed guns into the Capitol, the Senate security force has installed special alert buttons on the phone of every senator and staffer

December 6, 2011

Check out the Legislature's new redistricting maps

> Posted by Aaron Deslatte on December 6, 2011 05:32 PM

TALLAHASSEE -- The Florida House released its first drafts of congressional and legislative maps Tuesday as part of the long and politically perilous process of carving out new electoral turf.

Unlike the Senate, the House opted to float essentially a buffet-menu of options for districts that would appear to increase Hispanic representation – as well as safer Republican-leaning seats.

But in the same vein, the new political landscape would appear to give a slight advantage to Democrats, although not a huge one.

The seven proposals for congressional districts and five proposals for House districts won’t get a committee vote until perhaps the first week of the 60-day legislative session that starts in January.

And groups that pushed for anti-gerrymandering reforms are still expected to sue on the grounds that they don’t adhere closely enough to Amendments 5 and 6, which created new standards for drawing compact seats that don’t protect parties or incumbents.

But the maps are a first concrete interpretation from the chamber of how the Fair Districts amendments could play out in real life.

Out of the five proposals for House maps released Tuesday, all would increase the number of districts with more registered Democrats than Republicans.

Out of the 120 current House districts, 63 are GOP seats by registration. The five proposals would have an average of 60.4 seats would be GOP-leaning by registration.

More of the seats would have gone to Democratic gubernatorial candidate Alex Sink last year, and the 2008 presidential contest would have produced roughly the same split, with President Obama winning the votes in 54 of them and Republican John McCain winning 66.

Here's an easy-to-use interactive map of all the plans that have come out. The maps can show the break-down of districts by party, partisan performance in past elections, and race/ethnicity.

AIF touts gambling bill

> Posted by Kathleen Haughney on December 6, 2011 04:04 PM

TALLAHASSEE -- Associated Industries of Florida, flagged by building and construction companies, promoted legislation to bring three destination casinos to the state, but would not comment on whether Genting New World Resorts had asked them to advocate on their behalf.

The business lobbying group recently made an ad buy for North Florida in hopes of swaying lawmakers who are in Tallahassee this week for committee meetings.

AIF split from other big players in the business community, such as the Florida Chamber of Commerce, Disney World and the Florida Restaurant Lodging Association, which are ardently opposing the legislation.

AIF and Genting, who has plans to build a luxury resort and casino in Miami, have a few connections.

Erika Alba, the public affairs director for the firm Foley & Lardner, is the chair of AIF. The lead lobbyist for Genting is also with Foley & Lardner. Additionally, AIF and Genting share a public relations firm, Core Message, which is owned by former Jeb Bush adviser Cory Tilley.

Additionally, lobbying firm Southern Strategy Group recently parted ways with AIF and went to work for the Chamber. According to the state lobbying registry, some of Southern Strategy Group's lobbyists represent Disney, a political and business powerhouse in Florida, which has made it a top priority to kill the legislation.

Brewster Bevis, an AIF lobbyist, in response to questions about whether Genting gave money for the television ad, said that AIF never reveals information about their members or what members give them. But, he said he thinks the public can evaluate the legislative proposal, nonetheless.

"I think the public will look at this and say why don’t we create 100,000 new jobs?" he said. "I think that’s what the ads show and I think that’s what the public sentiment is."

Scott says may be "difficult" to get gambling interests on same page

> Posted by Kathleen Haughney on December 6, 2011 01:59 PM

TALLAHASSEE -- Gov. Rick Scott, who has remained coy on whether he will support a massive push to bring destination casino resorts to Florida, said that he thinks it will be a challenge to get all of the different gambling interests to agree to a single bill.

"I think it’s going to be difficult to get all of the parties together given we’ve got the existing compact with the Seminoles, we’ve got existing gaming with the dog tracks and horse tracks, but I look forward to looking at it.

Scott has repeatedly said that he doesn't want to see the state's budget tied to gambling and that he thinks there should be some sort of voter input, but has declined to give a firm position on whether he would support the general concept of bringing three resort casinos to the state.

He did, however, weigh in on another gambling issue that has been plaguing lawmakers -- Internet cafes.

"I think it ought to be clear whether it’s legal or not," he said.

On a follow up question, he added, "I don’t believe it was the intent of the legislature that we would have gaming in cafes."

Court shoots down Scott attempt to subpoena ACLU

> Posted by Kathleen Haughney on December 6, 2011 01:28 PM

TALLAHASSEE -- A federal magistrate yesterday denied an attempt by Gov. Rick Scott's office to subpoena records from the American Civil Liberties Union of Florida in its attempt to overturn a Scott policy requiring suspicionless drug testing of state employees.

Federal Magistrate Judge Edwin Torres yesterday ruled that the subpoenas seem to be designed to highlight the group's "hypocritical position in the case given their state of knowledge of the prevalence of drug use, for instance."

"The problem, however, is that the ACLU is not a fact witness in the case," he said.

The ACLU is representing the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees against Scott. It previously called the subpoena "harassment."

The governor’s lawyers had asked the group to turn over any documents related to private sector drug testing such as studies, polling data, legislative proposals and correspondence.

Senate prez: Universities should trade majors like baseball cards

> Posted by Aaron Deslatte on December 6, 2011 12:28 PM

TALLAHASSEE -- Senate President Mike Haridopolos said Tuesday that university presidents should have to sit around a table and trade majors and professors like baseball cards in order to eliminate programs and save the state money.

While it sounds like a cavalier concept, the outgoing Senate presiding officer said his successor, Don Gaetz, R-Niceville, was serious about pushing higher education reforms that would streamline campuses, and potentially minimize access to less utilized degree programs.

Haridopolos said in a wide-ranging availability with the Orlando Sentinel and other media that such changes aren't just hypothetical.

"Higher education reforms are going to come," he said.

Gov. Rick Scott made waves earlier this fall when he suggested that anthropology majors and journalism degrees were proving relatively useless on the job market -- and Florida colleges and universities should focus instead on science, engineering, mathematics and technology degree programs.

It's not clear what -- if anything -- will get changed in the upcoming legislative session set to start early on Jan. 10.

House Speaker Dean Cannon, R-Winter Park, said last week he wasn't in favor of higher education reform ideas that might try to crack down on professor tenure similarly to what lawmakers passed limiting tenure for future pre-K-12 public school teachers.

But Haridopolos said he had given Gaetz complete latitude to begin developing reform plans and seeking buy-in from other lawmakers.

Higher education budgets will absorb deeper cuts in the coming budget year, he said, and the times were forcing deeper programmatic changes on campuses.

"I would prefer that the college presidents sit around a table and literally start trading like baseball cards some of these majors," said Haridopolos a current University of Florida instructor who also taught at Brevard Community College.

"If they have a program that is kind of under-served, why don't they just talk to other universities and see if they have the same kind of program. ... Why not consolidate them on one campus, and then say 'I'll take your British history program, and you'll take our medieval studies program.' ... I just think that's a common-sense way of doing things as opposed to top-down.

"Obviously we're going to have to make reductions this year in higher ed. With that should come more flexibility for college presidents to spend money where they see fit. And one of those things might be for them sit around a table and trade programs out that are under-served."

Haridopolos likened the move to when he fired a slew of Senate professional staff who were less "user friendly" when he came into the job last year.

Senate Prez predicts multi year approach at higher ed reforms

> Posted by Kathleen Haughney on December 6, 2011 12:17 PM

TALLAHASSEE -- Like his House counterpart, Senate President Mike Haridopolos said Tuesday that higher ed reforms are on the Legislature's agenda for the next couple of years, especially as the state tries to cut dollars from universities in tight budget times.

"I would prefer the college presidents sit around the table and literally start trading like baseball cards some of these majors," Haridopolos said.

Haridopolos said it would be a good way for the system to reduce overhead costs and "also make a more dynamic department at a particular campus."

"Obviously, we’re going to have to make reductions this year in higher ed. With that should come more flexibility for college presidents to spend money where they see fit," he said.

House Speaker Dean Cannon has also said he would like the House to begin looking at higher education reforms, but said that that the vast majority of work would occur under Rep. Will Weatherford, R-Wesley Chapel, who will replace Cannon as speaker following the 2012 elections. Similarly, Sen. Don Gaetz, R-Niceville, who will be the next Senate President, will lead the effort in the Senate.

Haridopolos predicted it would be a multi year approach, but said if Gaetz wanted to propose legislation this year, that he would support him.

Senate prez: If ousted GOP chairman is not guilty, pay the guy

> Posted by Aaron Deslatte on December 6, 2011 12:03 PM

TALLAHASSEE -- Senate President Mike Haridopolos said Tuesday that if ousted Florida Republican Chairman Jim Greer is found not guilty of money laundering and fraud, he should get the $124,000 in severance party leaders negotiated before he stepping down last year.

Haridopolos, R-Merritt Island, is one of several top GOP officials and lobbyists forced to testify under oath as part of the criminal case against Greer. The former Oviedo city councilman has also filed a civil suit against the Republican Party of Florida, Haridopolos, and others.

In the weeks after Greer's fundraising activities through a secret entity called Victory Strategies first came to light, then-Attorney General Bill McCollum ordered an investigation and Haridopolos, former RPOF Chairman John Thrasher, and others repeatedly told the media there was no severance agreement with Greer. But several versions of severance agreements signed by different party leaders were later leaked, and the officials had to change their story.

A statewide grand jury indicted Greer for alleging using Victory Strategies to siphon money from party coffers for a bogus poll, among other things. But Greer's lawyers have argued GOP leadership -- which included Haridopolos and House Speaker Dean Cannon, R-Winter Park -- knew about Victory Strategies, and had orchestrated the charges to avoid paying him the severance.

In his deposition last month, Haridopolos stated that he was not telling "the whole story" in 2010 when he told a Miami Herald reporter "there were no agreements."

On Tuesday, Haridopolos told reporters during a media availability in his office that "If I had to do it over again, I clearly would have said something different."

"I probably should have said 'no comment.' I thought we weren't allowed to talk about it. It was a confidential agreement and that’s why. I should have done it better.”

He also said Greer should get his money -- provided he hasn't committed any crimes.

"The key part of the agreement was simple: If Jim Greer did nothing wrong, he would get compensation or a severance agreement," Haridopolos said. "He was charged with ... a crime. To me it’s a pretty clear deal. Clearly he did something wrong, or at least theoretically did something wrong. That’s why he was charged ... and will face trial sometime in the middle of next year.”

He added, "Had he done nothing wrong, I think he should be compensated. If he’s found not guilty, sure, compensate the guy. But clearly, if he’s convicted of a crime, he broke the contract."

Greer's trial in the criminal case is set to begin July 30, about two weeks before the Republican National Convention starts in Tampa. Greer's wife, Lisa, said in an e-mail to reporters Friday that she hoped the timing of the trial ironic.

"It seems that the Republican leadership is finally begining to reap what they have sown, as this is two weeks prior to the 2012 Republican National Convention in Tampa," Lisa Greer wrote.

"With all eyes focused on the Sunshine State I look forward to Jim having the opportunity to tell the truth, clear his good name and hold those current and former elected officials, political consultants and lobbyists who orchestrated a criminal case against him simply to avoid honoring the severance/hold harmless agreement and covering up for their own actions accountable."

December 5, 2011

Bahama oil wells may imperil Florida

> Posted by Kathleen Haughney on December 5, 2011 11:00 PM

By William Gibson in Washington D.C.

Just as South Florida braces for oil drilling set to begin next month off the shores of Cuba, a Bahamian company is pressing to dig exploratory wells as early as next year less than 200 miles from the state's delicate coastline.

The Bahamian plans could eventually bring rigs as close as 40 miles from Port Everglades.

Florida's Fugate shifts FEMA to 'professional' emergency management

> Posted by Kathleen Haughney on December 5, 2011 09:05 AM

Tallahassee -- Former Florida Emergency Management chief Craig Fugate, a Jeb Bush hire who remained as head of the state's emergency management team under former Gov. Charlie Crist, was regarded as one of the country's top emergency management officials when President Obama tapped him to take over the Federal Emergency Management Agency two and half years ago.

****State and local emergency officials credit him with restoring a professional shine to an agency tarnished by its response to Hurricane Katrina in 2005. Using social media, Fugate has emphasized readiness and outreach to organizations and businesses that haven't been traditional partners in disaster planning.

But FEMA also has been buffeted by recent fights on Capitol Hill over its budget, disaster declarations and a decision to demand disaster relief money back from thousands of Katrina victims whom the agency says were overcompensated.

"You've got the toughest job in America," Democratic Rep. Kathy Hochul of New York told Fugate at a recent hearing.

****

Impressed with Fugate's performance, then-Gov. Jeb Bush tapped him to run state operations, even though he lacked a college degree.

Fugate's reputation for deftly dealing with disasters, including four major hurricanes in 2004, grew beyond the Sunshine State. In 2009, President Obama appointed him to run FEMA, an agency with more than 7,400 employees and an annual budget of more than $7 billion.

Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano said Fugate stood out from others who sought the job.

"His depth of experience and background obviously were major plus factors," she said. "His no-nonsense but also creative approach to disaster management I found compelling. And he was the only applicant that came into my office wearing a Florida Gators tie."

****Fugate's appointment pleased emergency managers around the country who had gotten used to seeing FEMA run by political appointees with little experience coordinating disaster response.

Michael Brown, who ran the International Arabian Horse Association before President George W. Bush appointed him to head FEMA in 2003, was savaged for his sluggish response to Hurricane Katrina, a misstep that still haunts the agency. His predecessor, Joe Allbaugh, was Bush's campaign manager in 2000.

Fugate's hiring "signified a shift to professional emergency management by the new administration," said Jim Mullen, Washington state's top emergency official.

Today in the State Capitol: Gambling, families and veterans

> Posted by Kathleen Haughney on December 5, 2011 08:43 AM

TALLAHASSEE -- It's the last week set aside for committee meetings before the regular session starts in January. Monday looks like a rather quiet day for lawmakers, but tomorrow and the rest of the week promise to keep everyone busy as Gov. Rick Scott's budget gets rolled out and lawmakers digest his hopes and desires.

But here's a quick look at the highlights for today.

* State economists last week couldn't reach a conclusion on how the new destination resorts bill will impact Florida, but they meet today to discuss other gambling revenue for the state -- mainly slot machine tax revenue and Indian gambling dollars. Those two topics will be discussed in a 10 a.m. session of the Office of Economic and Demographic Research.

* Senate Military Affairs looks at several bills that include giving veterans college credit for military training. The committee meets at 9:30 a.m. in 37 Senate.

* Department of Children and Families Secretary David Wilkins is set to announce a new initiative to help Florida families. Statewide business leaders are expected to attend the announcement. His press conference is scheduled for 2 p.m. in the Cabinet Room.

Internet cafes draw ire of local gov't in gambling friendly South Fla

> Posted by Kathleen Haughney on December 5, 2011 08:31 AM

They're popping up all over South Florida, promising casino-style games — blackjack, keno, poker, slots — and instant cash winnings.

They call themselves sweepstakes cafes or Internet cafes, and are opening their doors in shopping plazas and strip malls, proliferating even in a bad economy.

Whatever they are, these cafes now are coming under closer scrutiny by state and local officials who call them unregulated outposts of gambling.

With free coffee and deli food on offer, players sit for hours at computers that emit lulling, electronic jingles. Patrons, many of them elderly, say the games are harmless fun, a pleasurable way to while away time.

Gambling opponents call them "pop-up" or "corner-store" casinos.

"Gambling is one thing, but gambling in a thousand neighborhoods is something altogether different," said state Rep. Scott Plakon, R-Longwood, who is sponsoring legislation to ban the cafes. "There's a word for it: convenience gambling."

> Posted by Kathleen Haughney on December 5, 2011 08:24 AM

TALLAHASSEE -- Good Morning and welcome to the Monday edition of the morning reads. It's a new week that's going to be filled with the governor's budget, another gambling bill workshop and more redistricting talks.

So, to get you ready for the day, here are the top five stories you should be reading.

* The Orlando Sentinel reports that several lawmakers may find their new districts will not include their actual home. From the story: Several Florida lawmakers could find themselves out of a home next year — at least politically — if the state Senate gets its way in drawing new congressional boundaries for the 2012 elections. The proposed map, which first must survive negotiations with the state House, would put the homes of at least two Central Florida representatives into new districts. A second map, setting state Senate lines, would force two senators to assume wholly new terrain to keep their seats

*The Sun-Sentinel writes that the Legislature has checked off a number of high profile education changes on their list, but money for schools remains a problem. From the story: After two years of hammering away on a K-12 education agenda designed by conservative think tanks, legislators have checked off a number of goals: merit pay, heightened graduation standards and an expanded voucher program. But even as they wait for these changes to take full effect, lawmakers are confronted by student standardized-test scores that seem to have hit a wall after a decade of improvement and yet another budget shortfall of close to $2 billion next year. Critics say the schools won't get better without more money — and are pressing a court case that would require higher funding for education

* The Palm Beach Post reports as more and more pill mills are shut down, addicts are turning to the Internet. From the story: Before Wellington pill-mill mogul Jeff George opened a chain of pain clinics, he sold steroids online. Brisk sales earned him seed money to launch other illegal businesses. While George's online drugstore is out of commission, rogue pharmacies remain, enabling Americans to illegally buy narcotics and other addictive drugs. In fact, Internet pill peddlers never had it so good: A Palm Beach Post review of sites found they're aided by major companies, a loophole in a well-intentioned law and an abundance of offshore havens stretching from Ukraine to China.

* PolitiFact Florida reports that the facts aren't backing up Gov. Rick Scott's statement that the health care overhaul isn't the law of the land. From the story: In the most significant challenge to the law, filed by Florida and joined by 25 other states, a district court judge found parts of the law unconstitutional, including the individual mandate. Judge Roger Vinson concluded the mandate couldn't be cut out of the legislation, and so struck down the whole law in January 2011. But he said states could continue implementing during the appeals process. The appeals court also found the individual mandate unconstitutional, but said that it could be struck down alone, preserving the rest of the law. The U.S. Supreme Court has agreed to review the case. Meanwhile, Scott says the health care law is "not the law of the land."

* The Palm Beach Post reports that farmers say there will be a crisis in their fields if undocumented workers are taken away. Those growers admit that at least 75 percent of their workers are in the U.S. illegally. Most of those workers buy fake Social Security cards and employers generally issue paychecks and deduct payroll taxes and Social Security taxes which they attribute to those false numbers. In that way employers fulfill their legal obligation. They are not obliged to check if the numbers are legitimate. But a bill now before the Congress, the Legal Workforce Act, sponsored by U.S. Rep. Lamar Smith, R-Texas, would require all employers to use a federal database called E-Verify to check the legitimacy of those numbers and not hire illegal workers.

Tuesday Morning Reads: FAMU hazing, gambling and education dollars

> Posted by Kathleen Haughney on December 5, 2011 07:30 AM

TALLAHASSEE -- The next few days will be extra busy for lawmakers, lobbyists and public relations firms as they continue with the final committee week before the session starts.

So, here's a look at the top five stories you should be reading this morning.

* The AP reports that FAMU students called for an end to hazing at an on-campus forum held in light of the death of drum major Robert Champion. From the story: Florida A&M President James Ammons said Monday the university is committed to breaking a conspiracy of silence that has for decades shrouded hazing practices at the school and finally resulted in a band member's death.
Ammons addressed an estimated 2,000 FAMU students Monday night and then took several questions, many of which were about the media coverage that most in the audience felt portrayed the school in a bad light.

* The Miami Herald writes about the confusion facing the expansion of gambling that started with Gretna's plans to start Barrel Racing. From the story: Florida’s current gambling laws, some say, are so haphazard, so disjointed, that no one can even agree on what the term “horse racing” means anymore.
If you’re thinking of the Kentucky Derby, think again. Gretna’s new Creek Entertainment barrel racing facility — which also will offer poker and hopes to add slots — has just opened, despite fervent opposition from the state’s horse trainers and breeders. Instead of racing around an oval track, these horses zig-zag around red barrels, rodeo-style.

* Gov. Rick Scott has dropped a plan to recapture pension savings from local governments, according to the Palm Beach Post. From the story: Gov. Rick Scott appears to have dropped his push to make counties, school boards and other governments return millions of dollars in cost savings earned this year when public employees were forced to contribute 3 percent to their retirements. Those familiar with Scott's budget proposal -- to be released Wednesday -- also say the governor will not call for increasing the 3 percent payments demanded of 655,000 teachers, police officers, firefighters and other public workers who belong to the Florida Retirement System.

* The Orlando Sentinel reports that with Florida's black bear population rebounding, the state is trying to educate homeowners on how to keep them out of their neighborhoods. From the story: State wildlife officials plan to track the bear population in subpopulations to fine-tune the animals' management. For Central Florida, the black bear subpopulation has enough habitat, but the region has one of the highest rates of bear complaints. Last year, the commission received 2,203 calls. About 36 percent of those calls reported a bear in a yard or tree, while about 28 percent of callers said the bear was in their garbage can.

* The St. Petersburg Times writes that the governor is touting the importance of school funding. From the story: This governor, who sought a 10 percent cut in school spending a year ago, appears to have learned an important lesson: No matter how bad the economy gets, cutting money for schools never seems popular. Scott ran for governor on a promise of property tax relief, which sounds great until you realize that a big chunk of the relief has to come from schools, largely funded by property taxes.

December 1, 2011

Rick Scott to RGA: Florida Democrats are 'frustrated'

> Posted by Aaron Deslatte on December 1, 2011 10:57 AM

Gov. Rick Scott told an audience of Republican state officials from around the country Thursday that his first year in office had been a success, and Democrats were “shocked” he had kept campaign pledges to go after teacher tenure, cut taxes and scale back state regulation.

The Republican Governors Association is hosting its annual meeting at Disney this year, and Scott shared the stage with other conservative-yet-controversial first year governors Scott Walker of Wisconsin, John Kasich of Ohio and Bill Haslam of Tennessee.

Lke Scott, those governor have pushed to disband public unions, crack down on teacher-tenure, and scale back lawsuits against businesses.

Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels opened the session saying he had given the new governors last year a bit of advice to “move quickly, move decisively, [and] do those things you know need doing without equivocating." He then referenced a line from his favorite country song: “If I shot you when I should have, I’d be out of jail by now.”

Although Scott's plan to eliminate the corporate income tax has slowed, his pledge to drug-test welfare recipients and privatize prisons have been blocked by courts, and his rule-repeal was rebuked by the Florida Supreme Court, Scott said the proof of his success was the job-growth Florida has experienced since he took office.

Unemployment has fallen in Florida thanks largely to restaurants, bars and tourism establishment hiring, falling from 12 percent unemployment last year to 10.3 percent in October, a net increase of 93,000 jobs this year.

“Democrats, they’re really frustrated that I did what I said I was going to do. They were just shocked,” Scott told the crowd. "For the first time in 20 years, we started paying down our debt.”

There are a few former staffers for former Republican Gov. Jeb Bush in the crowd, so it might be interesting to hear their take on whether Bush ran up debt during his eight-year tenure as governor that ended in 2007.

Scott also joked with the crowd that he hoped no one had come to Florida to ride high-speed rail. “We killed that,” he said, predicting California would never be successful in its plan to build a high-speed line in part with money Florida forfeited by abandoning its Tampa-to-Orlando line.

“We did those things and they worked. Jobs are coming back,” he said. “Our tourism is up 7 percent. The biggest thing is jobs are coming back.”

Most of the hour-long discussion by the panel focused on economic-development efforts, the inability of Washington to balance its budgets and reduce debt, and Medicaid reform.

"If they would give us the flexibility to manage Medicaid, I have no doubt we would cover more people with better outcomes," Kasich said. "If you can't do anything else, let our people go." He added the resistence to converting Medicaid into a blck-grant program would result in "more pain for poor people."

Scott piped in on the subject -- Florida has been negotiating for months with the federal government to reform its $22 billion program -- saying Washington thought the spending was "free money."

Kasich then said they should launch an "Occupy Washington" movement.

The RGA this week announced its leadership for the next year and its executive committee membership -- and Scott was noticeably not among the names on the list. The RGA had devoted more than $1 million to defeat Scott in his primary last year against Bill McCollum and Scott was none too pleased afterward with former RGA chairman Haley Barbour.

Asked at the end what he had learned in his first year, Scott said that as a first-time officeholder, virtually everything about the lawmaking process was new to him. “All the politics of people in the House and Senate. How many like and dislike each other and why. That would have been nice" to know, he said.

Connie Mack nabs lead in Senate polls

> Posted by Kathleen Haughney on December 1, 2011 10:43 AM

By our Orlando colleague Scott Powers

As shown in previous polls, U.S. Rep. Connie Mack, R-Fort Myers, a new has a huge lead over four candidates who’ve been campaigning much of the year for the Republican U.S. Senate nomination,even though he only officially entered the race this week.

A Public Policy Polling survey found Mack with 40 percent support in Florida, more than tripling the second-place sitting candidate, former U.S. senator George LeMieux, who came in with 12 percent.

The poll, released late Wednesday, notes that Mack has a huge advantage of name recognition. He is the son of Connie Mack III, who was Florida’s U.S. Senator for 12 years, until 2001. And he is the great-grandson of the Baseball Hall of Fame team owner and manager Connie Mack.

PPP found Connie Mack IV has 57 percent name recognition among Republican voters in Florida, compared with 29 percent name ID for LeMieux, 18 for Hasner and 17 for Miller and McCalister.

But the poll also notes that among voters who are familiar with the other candidates, Mack still is heavily favored.

“Name recognition is certainly an important part of the equation, but even when you account for that Mack’s well ahead,” PPP reported. “And he has strong numbers across the ideological lines of the GOP, getting 44% with ‘very conservative’ voters, 43% with ’somewhat conservative’ ones, and 32% with moderates.”

> Posted by Kathleen Haughney on December 1, 2011 08:15 AM

TALLAHASSEE -- Good morning and welcome to the Thursday edition of the morning reads. We're in Orlando for the Republican Governor's Association meeting today, so let's get started.

Here are the top five stories you should be reading today.

* The Orlando Sentinel writes that former Gov. Bob Graham has formed a coalition to protect the state's water supply. From the story: Fearing that government and industry are working to turn Florida's water supply into private property, a newly formed statewide coalition announced Wednesday in Tallahassee that it will work to ensure that aquifers and water bodies remain under public protection. The Florida Conservation Coalition was assembled by Bob Graham, a former Florida governor and U.S. senator, who said Gov. Rick Scott and state lawmakers earlier this year stripped away longstanding and critical protections of the state's watery environment.

* Politico reports that former Democratic gubernatorial candidate Alex Sink isn't confident about an Obama win in Florida. From the story: Former Florida gubernatorial candidate Alex Sink says it will be "hard" for President Barack Obama to win the Sunshine State in 2012, though she predicts Obama will ultimately be reelected.

* The Associated Press writes that a South Florida case is spurring a federal hearing on the use of psychotropic drugs on kids. From the story: Federal lawmakers will hold a hearing to examine a study on the high rates at which foster children are prescribed powerful psychotropic drugs. Sen. Tom Carper began investigating the issue after some studies show more than 20 percent of foster children will have taken psychotropic drugs at some point, compared to less than 5 percent of non-foster youth. The drugs can cause serious side effects including diabetes and suicidal behavior.

* The News-Press reports on a panel's examination of gambling in Lee County. From the story: Expanded gambling is inevitable in the state, so Southwest Florida should be ready to accept it in a responsible way. That was the consensus of a four-person panel on Wednesday who spoke about the possibility of a destination resort casino someday being built in Lee County. The presentation was a one-time event sponsored by the Chamber of Southwest Florida as a way to air the pros and cons of the gambling issue.

* The Florida Current writes that lawmakers are considering tougher unemployment compensation rules. From the story: A proposed committee bill filed late Tuesday by the House Business and Consumer Affairs Subcommittee seeks mandatory training for unemployment compensation beneficiaries who score below “minimum proficiency” on a skills test portion of the benefits application process.

WILLIAM E. GIBSON, the Sun Sentinel’s Washington correspondent for 27 years, has covered seven presidential elections and 14 sessions of Congress, always with South Florida readers in mind.

Originally from the Kansas City area, he lived in New Mexico, New York and Fort Lauderdale before moving to Washington. Along the way, he studied journalism at the University of Kansas and Columbia University.